curio

American  

[kyoor-ee-oh] / ˈkyʊər iˌoʊ /

noun

curios plural

1. any unusual article, object of art, etc., valued as a curiosity.

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curio British  

/ ˈkjʊərɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. a small article valued as a collector's item, esp something fascinating or unusual

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Usage

What does curio mean? A curio is a small object that’s unusual, novel, or interesting, typically one that’s part of a collection of other such objects. A curio can also be called a curiosity, and in fact it’s a shortening of that word. In a curio collection, there is often a variety of objects. The requirement for an item’s addition to the collection is usually just that it has to be curious, meaning that it arouses curiosity or is interesting in some way. Just about any small thing that one finds interesting can be called a curio, but the word is most often applied to things like antique trinkets, small handcrafted items, or natural objects, like rocks, fossils, and shells. The word curio is commonly associated with the type of case often used to display such collections, which is called a curio cabinet and usually looks like a bookcase with glass doors. The term curio shop typically refers to a souvenir shop that sells curios and other novelty items. Example: When I travel, I like to buy things made by local artisans to add to my curio collection.

Etymology

Origin of curio

First recorded in 1850–55; shortened from curiosity

Explanation

A curio is a strange or interesting collectible object. Your vintage Pez dispenser collection, for example, is a group of curios. Something worth collecting, whether it's a rare coin or a strange 19th century photograph or a bizarre clown painting, is a curio. You might even have a special, tall cabinet with glass doors for protecting and displaying your curios — you can call this a curio cabinet. The word curio, first used in the mid-19th century, originally meant specifically a collectible item from "the Far East," and was a shortened form of curiosity.

Example Sentences

Locals shuffled through makeshift aisles bounded by curio cabinets, wardrobes and home bars styled with faux cocktails for an imaginary party.

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2025

As an album, “New Blue Sun” tends toward the curio — both endurance and Rorschach test.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

Discovery is certainly the operative word when exploring The Shabby French Market, a Parisian-style arcade filled with antiques, heirloom jewelry and pretty much every curio one can imagine.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2023

It has long been a curio of Scottish football that the biggest games of the season for the Old Firm come in the opening weeks.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2023

Along with the stifling crowds, there were jugglers and swordsmen and curio sellers and camels lumbering under the weight of tourists in starched suits and petticoats.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• trinket