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• mentor
  mentor

  noun

  a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
• Mentor
  Mentor

  noun

  a town in NE Ohio.

mentor

¹ American  

[men-tawr, -ter] / ˈmɛn tɔr, -tər /

noun

1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.

   Synonyms:

   preceptor, guide, master, adviser

2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

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verb (used without object)

1. to act as a mentor.

   She spent years mentoring to junior employees.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as a mentor to.

   The brash young executive did not wish to be mentored by anyone.

Mentor ² American  

[men-ter] / ˈmɛn tər /

noun

1. a town in NE Ohio.

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Mentor ³ American  

[men-tawr, -ter] / ˈmɛn tɔr, -tər /

noun

1. (in theOdyssey ) a loyal adviser of Odysseus entrusted with the care and education of Telemachus.

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mentor ¹ British  

/ ˈmɛntɔː /

noun

1. a wise or trusted adviser or guide

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verb

1. to act as a mentor to (someone); train

Mentor ² British  

/ ˈmɛntɔː /

noun

1. the friend whom Odysseus put in charge of his household when he left for Troy. He was the adviser of the young Telemachus

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Usage

What does mentor mean? A mentor is the main person you rely on to give you advice and guidance, especially in your career. Mentor can also be used as a verb meaning to act as a mentor, as in I mentor two of my students. If you have a mentor, you are the mentee. Example: It feels strange to me that I’m now more famous than my mentor—I wouldn’t be where I am without her.

Other Word Forms

• mentorial
  adjective
• mentorship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of mentor

First recorded in 1740–50; after Mentor (from Greek Méntōr )

Explanation

A mentor is a person who trains and guides someone, like the second-grade English teacher who saw the spark of creativity in your writing and encouraged you to become a professional author. The original Mentor was a character in Homer's epic poem The Odyssey; Mentor looked after Odysseus's family, particularly his son Telemachus, while Odysseus was off fighting in the Trojan War. Today the word is used to describe any person who acts as an advisor or teacher. As a noun, mentor describes the coach who taught you to play baseball. As a verb, mentor is what the coach does to help you improve your swing.

Example Sentences

High-profile athletes have spoken about their decision to freeze their eggs, including England cricket captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and former England netballer Geva Mentor.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2025

While somewhat different to working as a professional athlete in Australia with access to proper physios, strength and conditioning and nutrition experts, Mentor says netball on the whole has "evolved".

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2024

Getting parents to support students by volunteering for at least 100 hours in the classroom — that’s been the goal for participants in the Parent Mentor Program in Chicago for more than 25 years.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2024

The Parent Mentor Program model continues to expand in different ways across the country through the newly formed Parent Engagement Institute.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2024

Mentor was thinking, and Matty was accustomed to seeing him deep in thought, for it was part of his classroom demeanor.

From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• adviser
• coach
• guide
• instructor
• teacher
• trainer
• tutor