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Synonyms

decorator

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

noun

  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

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.

Painter and decorator Matthew Newman says renovations in Leominster are taking so long that the town is looking tired.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

My mom, Mickey, was an interior decorator, and my father, Stanley, owned an import/export business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

"I feel the safest I've ever been," said Liberty Mini, a 33-year-old interior decorator originally from Burundi, who has lived in Lagos for three years.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

The set decorator, the painter, the greens person that puts the moss in is like, “Do you see where I put the moss right there? You see the moss right there?”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Dad had left us, and Mummy and I had all that shopping to do, consulting the decorator and everything.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

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