museology

[ myoo-zee-ol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the systematic study of the organization, management, and function of a museum.

museology

/ ˌmjuːzɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the science of museum organization

Derived Forms

• ˌmuseˈologist, noun
• ˌmuseoˈlogical, adjective

Other Words From

• mu·se·o·log·i·cal [myoo-zee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• muse·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of museology¹

First recorded in 1880–85; muse(um) + -o- + -logy

Example Sentences

“There is a way young people interact with the world that I don’t fully understand,” said Mulder, 44, the curator, who wrote his 2014 master’s thesis in museology at the University of Washington in Seattle on the benefits and concerns of using atrocity imagery in museum exhibits.

From New York Times

Lisa Steinbrueck, a conservator with a master’s in museology — and Victor Steinbrueck’s daughter —worries about their exposure.

From Seattle Times

Finally, graduate programs in museology offer courses devoted to sustainability.

From Seattle Times

At the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Sarah Kenderdine, a professor of digital museology, and her team are researching the best ways to use digital technology for better curatorship, whether by encouraging museum visitors to interact with the exhibits and each other or by finding better ways for the public to access a museum’s collection.

From New York Times

Despite her eye for interesting vintage items and penchant for storytelling, neither Olsen nor her sister is trained in museology; they both worked as nurses.

From Seattle Times