# guru

/ˈɡuˌɹu/ (US) · /ɡjˈʊɹuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/guru
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. an expert or mentor

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who knows a lot about a subject and gives advice to others.

For teachers: an influential expert or mentor in a specific field, often used in business or technology contexts.

- If you have questions about social media, you should talk to Sarah; she is the office guru.
- The company hired a management guru to streamline their operations and improve employee morale after the merger.

Usage: Often used with a noun modifier to specify the field of expertise.

Teaching tip: While common in business, using this for any expert can sometimes sound slightly humorous or informal.

## Examples

- She is a marketing guru who helps small businesses grow.
- After years of successful investing, he became a financial guru for people looking to retire early.
- The tech guru's keynote address was met with intense scrutiny by industry analysts who questioned the feasibility of his long-term vision for artificial intelligence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.