curator
noun
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
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
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.
Examples of curator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the economics of independent film are constantly in flux, the importance of festivals as curators who can connect quality films with passionate audiences is as important as ever.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
In Minor Keys, the 61st International Art Exhibition, is the final vision of the late Cameroonian-Swiss curator, Koyo Kouoh.
—Jenn Rice, Vogue, 20 May 2026
The Digest Art Basel has appointed Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as artistic director of Art Basel Qatar’s 2027 edition.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026
This exhibit emphasizes education, said Danielle Castillo, zoological curator of aquariums at SeaWorld San Diego.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for curator
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Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
In Minor Keys, the 61st International Art Exhibition, is the final vision of the late Cameroonian-Swiss curator, Koyo Kouoh.
—Jenn Rice, Vogue, 20 May 2026
The Digest Art Basel has appointed Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as artistic director of Art Basel Qatar’s 2027 edition.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026
This exhibit emphasizes education, said Danielle Castillo, zoological curator of aquariums at SeaWorld San Diego.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for curator
Cite this Entry
“Curator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curator. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
curator
noun
cu·ra·tor
ˈkyu̇(ə)r-ˌāt-ər
kyu̇-ˈrāt-
kyu̇-ˈrāt-
ˈkyu̇r-ət-
: a person in charge of a museum or zoo
Legal Definition
curator
noun
cu·ra·tor
ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər, kyu̇-ˈrā-tər
in the civil law of Louisiana
: a person appointed by a court to care for the property of an absent person or to care for the person or property of someone mentally incapable of doing so compare committee, conservator, guardian, interdict, tutor
curatorship
noun
Etymology
Latin, guardian, from curare to take care of
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