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Synonyms

decorator

American  
[dek-uh-rey-ter] / ˈdɛk əˌreɪ tər /

noun

  • decorators
    plural
  1. interior designer.

  2. a person who decorates.


adjective

  1. harmonizing with or suitable for a scheme of interior decoration.

    appliances in decorator colors.

decorator British  
/ ˈdɛkəˌreɪtə /

noun

  1. a person whose profession is the painting and wallpapering of buildings

  2. a person who decorates

  3. See interior decorator

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of decorator

First recorded in 1745–55; decorate + -or 2

Explanation

A decorator is a person whose job involves decorating rooms — fixing them up, painting, arranging furniture, and so on. Your uncle might hire a decorator to help him furnish his brand new, fancy vacation home. You can also call a decorator a designer or an interior designer. Skilled decorators are particularly good at combining colors, fabrics, rugs, and furniture styles to make a good-looking space. Even if you're not a professional decorator, you could offer to help a friend decorate her apartment, painting her walls bright orange and sewing fuzzy green pillows for her sofa. Decorator comes from the Latin word decorare, "to adorn, embellish, or beautify."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing decorator

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But Cain, an interior decorator for 25 years, wasn’t daunted by the chaos that came with such an extensive project.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 6, 2026

David Sanchez, a 48-year-old painter and decorator, had just returned home to Cebreros after evacuating at the weekend to find that his small olive and pistachio grove had been consumed by the inferno.

From Barron's Jul. 27, 2026

While traveling with Ildr, he has dreams of his life as a decorator, creating an “Inception”-style circuit of realities.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 10, 2026

At times Stana appears to have worked as a decorator in London.

From BBC Jun. 5, 2026

"You might as well redecorate the entire kitchen," Grace Wexler, decorator, proposed.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

This is especially true for the oversize ones, which holiday decorators say are superior in quality and creativity.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 5, 2025

And yet: If the White House’s furniture, paintings, and wallpaper inspire the fervent scrutiny of the nation’s interior decorators, it is because meatier changes have been so rare.

From Slate Aug. 5, 2025

Some became dog walkers and decorators; others, chimney sweeps.

From BBC Jul. 12, 2025

You have set builders and set decorators and hair, makeup, all kinds of things.

From Salon Aug. 21, 2024

We can’t go in Heather’s room because the decorators aren’t finished.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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