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

Virginia offers tax-free grants to nurses and other health professionals who mentor nursing students, while Georgia, Maryland, Colorado, South Carolina and Alabama are among states that offer tax credits or other financial incentives.

From Los Angeles Times

“Jeff has been my primary mentor in this game,” said Bob Ike, a long-time public handicapper in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

Apart from her personal popularity as Mexico’s first woman president, polls show strong support among poor and working-class Mexicans for her continuation of social-aid programs launched by her predecessor and mentor, ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

From Los Angeles Times

In her long career, Ms Yadav also got the opportunity to mentor aspiring train operators, many of them women.

From BBC

Similarly, the fourth song on Swift’s album “The Life of a Showgirl,” which was released on Thursday, tells the experience of a specific relationship between a mentor and his protégé.

From 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.