museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value

American Museum of Natural History

also : a place where objects are exhibited

an art museum

Synonyms

• gallery
• salon

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history

a trip to the Museum of Natural History

Recent Examples on the Web

The Getty Center in Brentwood is about a 25-minute drive southwest of the Getty Villa, a older museum and education center located in the Pacific Palisades area. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025

Near downtown Honolulu, the Honolulu Museum of Art is the state’s largest fine arts museum, with over 60,000 pieces in its permanent collection. —Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Jan. 2025

At the same time, Danish heritage and Scandinavian nature are taking center stage with the debut of new museums and hiking routes. —David Nikel, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Taxidermy alligators are often displayed in homes, museums or educational settings as decorative pieces or exhibits to showcase wildlife. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin Museum place for learned occupation, from Greek Mouseion, from neuter of Mouseios of the Muses, from Mousa

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing museum

• historical museum
• museum piece
• wax museum

Kids Definition

museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: a building in which interesting and valuable things (as works of art or historical or scientific objects) are collected and shown to the public

Etymology

from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" — related to music

Word Origin

The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses—and to the arts and sciences for which they stood—was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.