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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

• mentors
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• mentorship
  noun
• mentorial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mentors
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mentor

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

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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

See Examples For:

mentor Mentor mentors

But Mr. David also excelled as a talent spotter and mentor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Listen to the pop-country godmother: If you’re enjoying the country-crossover renaissance exemplified by Ella Langley’s chart-topping song “Choosin’ Texas,” you’re in for a treat: Langley’s mentor, Miranda Lambert, has a new album out.

From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026

It also means erasing the construct of Hal’s consciousness that has guided John since his mentor died.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

"I have done a few coaching courses, and there has been one female coaching mentor," says Conning.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

After that first selection at Auschwitz, I was miraculously reconnected with my mentor.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

For Geva Mentor - England netball's most decorated player - this was the reality of going through the process of having her eggs frozen in 2019.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Mentor is one of a growing number of athletes to consider fertility preservation during their careers, but the practice remains the subject of debate and experts stress it offers no guarantee of a future pregnancy.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

The crew of the Mentor traveled halfway around the world before pausing to take on supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Once it became clear that the survivors of the Mentor were American, the Ngarchelongese agreed to help them get home by building them a canoe to supplement their whaling boat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Matty turned to look at Mentor, the teacher who meant so much to him.

From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry

"Things have calmed down dramatically since the early 2000s," Zimbo, who now mentors youngsters, said.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Reitano, a former child actor, volunteers with local schools and, according to her website, mentors “future lawyers” through moot court competitions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The Rand report was sponsored by American Corporate Partners, an organization that matches military veterans working at large employers with mentors inside those companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Have you had any mentors like the one you play?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

The crowd slows our entourages of stylists and mentors and chaperones, so we have only each other for company.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

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Related Words

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

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