# mentor

/ˈmɛnˌtɔɹ/ (US) · /mˈɛntɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mentor
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. an advisor

noun · CEFR B2

an experienced person who helps and guides you over a long period of time.

For teachers: a trusted counselor or guide who provides professional or personal support to a less experienced person.

- She asked her former boss to be her mentor as she started her new business.
- The university established a formal programme where senior faculty members act as mentors to junior researchers navigating the grant application process.

## Examples

- My manager acted as a mentor during my first year at the company.
- The university pairs every new student with a senior mentor to help them navigate the challenges of campus life.
- While a teacher focuses on specific lessons, a mentor provides broader career guidance and introduces their protégé to valuable professional networks.

---

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.