Definition

A person who collects or studies postage stamps.

Example

My uncle is a philatelist who has an impressive collection of rare stamps.

Conversation

Did you know that my uncle is a philatelist?

Really? That's interesting! What does he do?

He collects stamps from all over the world and studies their history.

That sounds like a fun hobby! I’d love to see his collection.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Philatelist → It is formed from "philos" (from Greek, meaning love) and "ateleia" (from Greek, meaning exemption from tax). The word refers to a person who loves collecting stamps, which were historically used for tax exemption on mail.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'loves' ('philos') collecting stamps that were once 'exempt from tax' ('ateleia') — that's why a philatelist is a stamp collector.

Visually Confused Words