Mentor

¹

[men-ter]

noun

1. a town in NE Ohio.

Mentor

²

[men-tawr, -ter]

noun

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

mentor

³

[men-tawr, -ter]

noun

1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.

   Synonyms: preceptor, guide, master, adviser

2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

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

¹

/ ˈmɛntɔː /

noun

1. a wise or trusted adviser or guide

verb

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

Mentor

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• mentorship noun
• mentorial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mentor¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mentor¹

C18: from _Mentor

Example Sentences

Nancy Shear wasn’t yet out of her teens when she was hired as musical assistant to the eminent and enigmatic symphony conductor Leopold Stokowski, who became her mentor and a father figure of sorts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Think for now I’m going nowhere with her except economics mentor. I think I’m right now in the seen very warmly in rearview mirror category,” he wrote Epstein from a conference at 10:53 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She poses as a mentor to Tess, but she’s not about to let some lowly secretary keep her from coming out on top in a man’s world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“If it were me, I would not continue in the position,” said Bratton, whom Tisch has previously described as a mentor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, Daedone, who married and divorced, “burned through friends, lovers and partners at an alarming rate,” according to a mentor.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.