English Reference

Word

tutelage

Phoneticstute·lage

US/ˈtjutɪɫɪdʒ/

UK/tjˈuːtɛlɪdʒ/

Definition

n. the time you spend learning from a teacher or expert. It describes the guidance and training you receive from someone more experienced.

n. the period of instruction or guidance provided by a teacher, mentor, or master. Often implies a formal or structured relationship where the learner is under the direct supervision of the instructor.

Examples

“She learned the basics of painting under the tutelage of a famous artist.”

“After years of study under the tutelage of a senior lawyer, he finally passed the bar exam and opened his own firm.”

“The young pianist's technical mastery was largely attributable to the rigorous tutelage of her grandmother, who had once performed at the Vienna Opera.”

Examples

simple

“She learned the basics of painting under the tutelage of a famous artist.”

contextual

“After years of study under the tutelage of a senior lawyer, he finally passed the bar exam and opened his own firm.”

complex

“The young pianist's technical mastery was largely attributable to the rigorous tutelage of her grandmother, who had once performed at the Vienna Opera.”

Real-World Examples

“He spent last season playing professionally, earning promotion from the National League with Rochdale under the tutelage of Jimmy McNulty.”
The Guardian · 3 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Latin tūtēla (“a watching, guardianship, protection”) + -age, from tuērī (“to watch, guard”). See tuition.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

tutelageNountutorNountutorialNoun

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/tutelage

English Reference