collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

: one that collects: such as

a

: an official who collects funds or moneys

b

: a person who makes a collection

stamp collector

c

: an object or device that collects

the statuette was a dust collector

d

: solar collector

collectorship

kə-ˈlek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of collector in a Sentence

He is an avid stamp collector.

The painting was purchased by a private collector.

The trash collectors came early today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Case in point is a new series of eight bottles from American independent bottler Single Cask Nation, which turned to some unfamiliar scotch distilleries to come up with a lineup for hardcore whisky collectors. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2025

County tax collector to give talk The Rancho Bernardo Republican Women group hosts a presentation by guest speaker San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister at a luncheon meeting from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Heights Country Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Parkway. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

Glass Display Cabinets For more serious collectors who want to showcase their Squishmallows while keeping them protected, glass display cabinets are the way to go. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2025

More than 30 coin dealers will have high quality coins for the beginner to advanced collectors. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English collectour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin collēctōr-, collēctor, from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing collector

• collector's item
• solar collector

Kids Definition

collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

1

: a person whose job is to collect money due

tax collector

bill collector

2

: one that makes a collection

stamp collector

3

: an object or device that collects

the ornament was just a dust collector