# tutor

/ˈtutɝ/ (US) · /tjˈuːtɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. private teacher

noun · CEFR B1

a teacher who gives private lessons to one person or a very small group.

For teachers: a private instructor who provides remedial or supplementary education to an individual student or a small group.

- Her parents hired a maths tutor to help her prepare for the final exam.
- The family engaged a private tutor to provide intensive language support before the student relocated to a foreign university.

### 2. university official

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a university teacher who looks after a group of students and helps them with their studies.

For teachers: a member of a university faculty responsible for the academic or pastoral care of assigned students.

- If you have any problems with your course, you should speak to your personal tutor.
- The senior tutor is responsible for overseeing the academic progress and welfare of all undergraduates within the college.

### 3. to teach privately

verb · CEFR B1

to teach a student privately, often to help them improve in a specific subject.

For teachers: to provide individualised instruction, typically in a remedial or supplementary capacity.

- He tutors several students in chemistry after school on Tuesdays.
- She spent her summer tutoring local high school students in advanced calculus to save money for her own tuition fees.

### 4. legal guardian

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a person who is legally responsible for a child and their money.

For teachers: a person appointed to manage the person or estate of a minor or someone legally incapable of managing their own affairs.

- In the old story, the orphan's tutor managed the family farm until the boy grew up.
- The court appointed a legal tutor to oversee the distribution of the inheritance until the heirs reached the age of majority.

Usage: Common in historical legal documents or specific civil law jurisdictions.

## Examples

- My math tutor helps me prepare for exams every Tuesday.
- After struggling with chemistry for several weeks, the student hired a tutor to explain the complex formulas.
- The university assigns a personal tutor to every undergraduate to provide both academic guidance and support for their general well-being throughout the degree program.

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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.