collector: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common across all registers.
Quick answer
What does “collector” mean?
A person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.
An object, device, or part that collects something; a person who collects payments (e.g., taxes, tickets, debts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is almost identical. Minor spelling differences in related terms (e.g., 'cheque' vs. 'check' for a collector of such items).
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation. 'Debt collector' is common in both but may carry a slightly stronger negative connotation in more informal US contexts.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “collector” in a Sentence
[collector] + [of + NOUN (collection type)][adjective] + [collector][noun (item)] + [collector]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “collector” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I will collect the post.
- The council collects rubbish on Tuesdays.
American English
- I will collect the mail.
- The city collects trash on Tuesdays.
adverb
British English
- He works collectingly, gathering items over years.
American English
- He works in a collected manner, gathering items over years.
adjective
British English
- The collecting box was full.
- He attended a collectors' fair.
American English
- The collection box was full.
- He attended a collectors' convention.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a person or department responsible for gathering payments or receivables (e.g., 'accounts receivable collector').
Academic
Used in fields like sociology ('data collector'), anthropology, and art history ('private collector').
Everyday
Most commonly refers to a hobbyist (e.g., 'He's a collector of vintage comics').
Technical
In engineering/physics: a device for gathering energy or particles (e.g., 'solar collector', 'dust collector').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “collector”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “collector”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “collector”
- Using 'collector' for someone who simply gathers things once (a 'gatherer'). A collector implies an ongoing activity.
- Confusing 'collector' with 'collection' (the items vs. the person).
- Spelling: 'collecter' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'collector' implies organisation, selection, and often knowledge about the items. A 'hoarder' implies unsystematic, often compulsive accumulation without curation, typically with negative connotations.
A 'collector' is the person (or device) who gathers. The 'collection' is the set of items gathered. For example, 'The collector showed me his coin collection.'
Yes, in technical contexts. For example, a 'dust collector' in a workshop or a 'solar thermal collector' on a roof are devices that gather specific substances or energy.
It can be, often in combination (e.g., 'Tax Collector', 'Accounts Receivable Collector', 'Field Data Collector'). By itself, it's more commonly a descriptive term for a hobbyist.
A person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.
Collector: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛktə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛktər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A dust collector (something bought but never used)”
- “Like a kid in a candy store (describing an excited collector's delight)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'He LECTs people to pay' (collects debts). Or, a person who 'elects' to gather specific items.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/WEALTH IS A COLLECTION (e.g., 'a collector of facts', 'a collector of rare art').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a typical role of a 'collector'?