noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/kənˈsɝ.və.tɚ/
US:[kənˈsɝ.və.ɾɚ]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AH0 N S ER1 V AH0 T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
One who conserves, preserves or protects something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)https://web.archive.org/web/20150212214621/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/pilgrim-roads/salopek-text Chlouveraki, a tenacious archaeological conservator, has salvaged antiquities all over the Middle East.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A person appointed by a court to manage the affairs of another; similar to a guardian but with some powers of a trustee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An officer in charge of preserving the public peace, such as a justice or sheriff.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A judge delegated by the pope to defend certain privileged classes of persons from manifest or notorious injury or violence, without recourse to a judicial process.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects, particularly artistic objects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
someone appointed by a court to assume responsibility for the interests of a minor or incompetent person
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fiduciary
7
noun
Meaning 7
the custodian of a collection (as a museum or library)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: curator
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: custodian, keeper, steward
History
Etymology
From Middle English conservatour, from Anglo-Norman conservatour, from Latin cōnservātor (“one who conserves”), agent noun from cōnservō (“to preserve”).
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
защитник
(zaštitnik)
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Bulgarian:
пазител
(pazitel)
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Danish:
konservator
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Dutch:
conservator
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Dutch:
conservatrice
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Dutch:
bewaarder
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Dutch:
bewaardster
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Greek:
συντηρητής
(syntiritís)
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Greek:
συντηρήτρια
(syntirítria)
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Māori:
kairaupī
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Māori:
kairokiroki
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Polish:
konserwator
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Polish:
konserwatorka
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Romanian:
conservator
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Romanian:
conservatoare
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Spanish:
apoderado
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Spanish:
apoderada
— one who conserves, preserves or protects something
Bulgarian:
реставратор
(restavrator)
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Bulgarian:
реставраторка
(restavratorka)
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Dutch:
restaurateur
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Dutch:
restauratrice
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Greek:
συντηρητής
(syntiritís)
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Greek:
συντηρήτρια
(syntirítria)
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Indonesian:
konservator
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Māori:
kairaupī
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Māori:
kairokiroki
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Polish:
konserwator
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Polish:
konserwatorka
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Polish:
restaurator
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Polish:
restauratorka
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Romanian:
conservator
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Romanian:
conservatoare
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Romanian:
restaurator
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Romanian:
restauratoare
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Turkish:
konservatör
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
Turkish:
restoratör
— professional who works on the conservation and restoration of objects
