Mentor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈmen-ˌtȯr/ men·tor

Meaning & Definition of Mentor

Mentor (noun)

  1. a person who gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person especially in a professional or academic context
  2. a teacher, tutor, or coach
  3. a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus

Mentor (verb)

  1. to teach or give advice or guidance to (someone less experienced), to act as a mentor for

Mentor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in adviser, counselor

    similar: adviser, cicerone, counselor, guide, driller, drillmaster, instructor, teacher, tutor, handler, manager, coach, trainer

Mentor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed

    "we're looking for volunteers to mentor students in the theater arts"

    similar: coach, counsel, guide, lead, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor, walk through
    related: godfather, direct, engineer, steer, sway, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, squire, oversee, superintend, supervise, drill, train, brief, enlighten, inform, instruct, school, teach, inculcate, indoctrinate, cultivate, foster, nurture

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mentor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mentor:

adviser, cicerone, counselor, guide, driller, drillmaster, instructor, teacher, tutor, handler, manager, coach, trainer, counsel, lead, pilot, shepherd, show, walk through

Related Words for Mentor

godfather, direct, engineer, steer, sway, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, squire, oversee, superintend, supervise, drill, train, brief, enlighten, inform, instruct, school, teach, inculcate, indoctrinate, cultivate, foster, nurture

Word Forms of Mentor

Inflections: mentored, mentoring, mentors

Derived words: mentoring (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Mentor

as name borrowed from Latin Mentōr, borrowed from Greek Méntōr; as generic noun borrowed from French mentor, after Mentor, character in the novel Les aventures de Télémaque (1699) by the French cleric and writer François Fénelon (1651-1715), based on characters in the Odyssey

First known use: 1616

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Mentor

Frequently Asked Questions about Mentor

What does "Mentor" mean?

"Mentor" means a person who gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person especially in a professional or academic context. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a person who gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person especially in a professional or academic context. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mentor"?

Other words for "Mentor" include adviser, cicerone, counselor, guide, driller, drillmaster, instructor and teacher. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mentor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mentor"?

There are 47 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mentor". Common alternatives include adviser, cicerone, counselor, guide, driller, drillmaster, instructor, teacher, tutor and handler.

How do you use "Mentor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mentor" in a sentence: "we're looking for volunteers to mentor students in the theater arts".

Is "Mentor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mentor" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Mentor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Mentor" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Mentor"?

"Mentor" is pronounced /ˈmen-ˌtȯr/ and divided into syllables as men·tor.

What is the origin of the word "Mentor"?

"Mentor" comes from as name borrowed from Latin Mentōr, borrowed from Greek Méntōr; as generic noun borrowed from French mentor, after Mentor, character in the novel Les aventures de Télémaque (1699) by the French cleric and writer François Fénelon (1651-1715), based on characters in the Odyssey. First known use: 1616.