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
Examples of museum in a Sentence
a museum of natural history
a trip to the Museum of Natural History
Recent Examples on the Web
Nor does your typical civilian bunker double as a semi-permanent museum, as Sonnenberg does today.
—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens, The Dial, 24 Apr. 2025
When efforts to repurpose it as a museum or hotel didn’t materialize, Okaloosa County officials stepped in with a forward-thinking plan: turn the SS United States into a reef teeming with life, a win-win boon to the marine environment and to eco-tourism.
—Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
It will be unveiled on May 7 as part of the open-air museum’s new $53 million expansion, which aims to improve visitor experience with new buildings, landscapes, and commissions.
—Thessaly La Force, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2025
The museum’s collection, ranging from fine china and carpentry tools to children’s toys and the world’s oldest pickles, offers a unique window into American history.
—Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
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Jessi Jezewska Stevens, The Dial, 24 Apr. 2025
When efforts to repurpose it as a museum or hotel didn’t materialize, Okaloosa County officials stepped in with a forward-thinking plan: turn the SS United States into a reef teeming with life, a win-win boon to the marine environment and to eco-tourism.
—Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
It will be unveiled on May 7 as part of the open-air museum’s new $53 million expansion, which aims to improve visitor experience with new buildings, landscapes, and commissions.
—Thessaly La Force, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2025
The museum’s collection, ranging from fine china and carpentry tools to children’s toys and the world’s oldest pickles, offers a unique window into American history.
—Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
Cite this Entry
“Museum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/museum. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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.
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