curator

American  

[kyoo-rey-ter, kyoor-ey-, kyoor-uh-ter] / kyʊˈreɪ tər, ˈkyʊər eɪ-, ˈkyʊər ə tər /

noun

1. the person in charge of a museum, art collection, etc.

2. a person who selects content for presentation, as on a website.

3. a manager; superintendent.

4. Law. a guardian of a minor or any other person who is unable to care for their own affairs, especially with regard to their property.

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curator British  

/ ˌkjʊərəˈtɔːrɪəl, kjʊəˈreɪtə /

noun

1. the administrative head of a museum, art gallery, or similar institution

2. law a guardian of a minor, mentally ill person, etc

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Other Word Forms

• curatorial adjective
• curatorship noun
• subcurator noun
• subcuratorial adjective
• subcuratorship noun

Etymology

Origin of curator

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin, equivalent to cūrā(re) “to care for, attend to” ( cure ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Upcoming programming includes a conversation with the legendary performance artist Barbara T. Smith, and a panel led by a Ukrainian curator on war photography.

From Los Angeles Times

And time is the great curator, of course.

From Los Angeles Times

Nowadays "there's a new freedom", as with clothing, said exhibition curator Mara Cappelletti, a professor of jewellery history.

From Barron's

She was hired as the first curator exclusively devoted to such art in any encyclopedic American museum in 2001, a year after the DIA created a Center for African American Art.

From The Wall Street Journal

As the Scotch industry grapples with sluggish demand, distillers and whisky curators are doubling down on the visitor experience, with some opening guest rooms on site.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• administrator
• conservator
• custodian
• director
• manager