docent
noun
do·cent
ˈdō-sᵊnt 
dō(t)-ˈsent
dō(t)-ˈsent
1
: a college or university teacher or lecturer
2
: a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery
Did you know?
The title of docent is used in many countries for what Americans would call an associate professor—that is, a college or university teacher who has been given tenure but hasn't yet achieved the rank of full professor. But in the U.S. a docent is a guide who works at a museum, a historical site, or even a zoo or a park. Docents are usually volunteers, and their services are often free of charge.
Examples of docent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two years were necessary to source the stones used to evoke the chromatic richness of the Toile de Jouy print that called for some 27 colors — the maximum number possible, a docent noted during the evening.
—
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 7 July 2025
The county approved a Spanish Colonial Revival-style replacement, funded in part by a bond, with cost overruns paid for by taxes on oil extraction in the county, said Bob Dickey, a docent for the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
David Nichols, one of 10 volunteer docents who serve the museum, pointed out how meticulous Moulton was in his record-keeping.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 19 May 2025
Volunteers are on-site throughout the display’s Antioch stay, acting as docents in guiding tours, while security is also provided.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
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Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 7 July 2025
The county approved a Spanish Colonial Revival-style replacement, funded in part by a bond, with cost overruns paid for by taxes on oil extraction in the county, said Bob Dickey, a docent for the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
David Nichols, one of 10 volunteer docents who serve the museum, pointed out how meticulous Moulton was in his record-keeping.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 19 May 2025
Volunteers are on-site throughout the display’s Antioch stay, acting as docents in guiding tours, while security is also provided.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for docent
Cite this Entry
“Docent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docent. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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