cu·ra·tor
ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər
ˈkyər-;
kyu̇-ˈrā-
ˈkyu̇r-ə-,
ˈkyər-
plural curators
: a person who oversees or manages a place (such as a museum or zoo) that offers exhibits
"My passion for animal care and collection management really drove me to become a curator."—Scott Newland
also
: a person at a museum, zoo, etc. who is in charge of a specific collection or subject area
the curator of manuscripts
cu·ra·tor·ship
ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər-ship
ˈkyər-,
-ə-tər;
kyu̇-ˈrā-
plural -s
: the office, position, duties, or jurisdiction of a curator
appointed a new man to the curatorship of the museum
fulfilled his curatorship with efficiency and care
the curatorship of the international committee extended over the disputed territory
Did you know?
In a good-sized art museum, each curator is generally responsible for a single department or collection: European painting, Asian sculpture, Native American art, and so on. Curatorial duties include acquiring new artworks, caring for and repairing objects already owned, discovering frauds and counterfeits, lending artworks to other museums, and mounting exhibitions of everything from Greek sculpture to 20th-century clothing.
Cite this Entry
“Curator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curator. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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