museum
noun
mu·se·um
myu̇-ˈzē-əm 
: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
American Museum of Natural History
also
: a place where objects are exhibited
an art museum
Examples of museum in a Sentence
a museum of natural history
a trip to the Museum of Natural History
Recent Examples on the Web
In Friday’s announcement, the museum said the renovations will modernize the building and expand and upgrade its Welcome Center and auditorium.
—
Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
The museum has broadened its focus considerably since then, but photojournalism, largely ignored elsewhere, continues to be its strong point.
—Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
The decision follows new provenance research and collaboration with Nepalese officials, the museum said.
—Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025
The first museum to be built in the city in a century, its upper volume hangs dramatically above ground, freeing up space for a generous public waterfront.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
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Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
The museum has broadened its focus considerably since then, but photojournalism, largely ignored elsewhere, continues to be its strong point.
—Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
The decision follows new provenance research and collaboration with Nepalese officials, the museum said.
—Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025
The first museum to be built in the city in a century, its upper volume hangs dramatically above ground, freeing up space for a generous public waterfront.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
Cite this Entry
“Museum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/museum. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
museum
noun
mu·se·um
myu̇-ˈzē-əm
: a building in which interesting and valuable things (as works of art or historical or scientific objects) are collected and shown to the public
Etymology
from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" — related to music
Word Origin
The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses—and to the arts and sciences for which they stood—was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.
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