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
Opened in 2020, the museum features interactive exhibits dedicated to the mythical sea creature.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Over the years, the lighthouse was used as a museum and a coffee shop, but erosion from the sea forced that to come to a halt.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 13 July 2025
The museum only states that the fossil likely belonged to a plant-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Their research suggests even more new species could be identified from museum collections in the future.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
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Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Over the years, the lighthouse was used as a museum and a coffee shop, but erosion from the sea forced that to come to a halt.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 13 July 2025
The museum only states that the fossil likely belonged to a plant-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Their research suggests even more new species could be identified from museum collections in the future.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 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 21 Jul. 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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