counselor

noun

coun·​sel·​or ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)lər 

variants or counsellor

1

: a person who gives advice or counseling

a marriage counselor

2

: lawyer

specifically : one that gives advice in law and manages cases for clients in court

The defendant conferred with his counselor.

3

: one who has supervisory duties at a summer camp

The counselor led the campers on a hike through the woods.

counselorship

ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)lər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of counselor

• adviser
• consultant

Examples of counselor in a Sentence

He works as a camp counselor.

a young couple going to a marriage counselor

Recent Examples on the Web

Linda Kern, a Cornell alum who has been a college admissions counselor for eight years, hasn’t had any students bring up the Cornell case, nor have any decided to toss their applications. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Shiloh is now walking through the halls where her grandfather was a teacher, her aunt was a counselor and four of her five siblings went to school. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

For teachers and counselors citing the research with families, that nuance matters. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

This includes — but is not limited to — nurses at state hospitals and prisons, cooks employed by the California Highway Patrol academy and counselors at the California School for the Deaf. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see counsel entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing counselor

• counselor-at-law
• guidance counselor

Rhymes for counselor

• councillor
• councilor
• counsellor

Kids Definition

counselor

noun

coun·​sel·​or

variants or counsellor

ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

: a person who gives advice

guidance counselor

2

: lawyer

3

: a supervisor of campers or activities at a summer camp

Medical Definition

counselor

noun

coun·​sel·​or

variants or counsellor

ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)lər 

: a person engaged in counseling

Legal Definition

counselor

noun

coun·​se·​lor

ˈkau̇n-sə-lər

: counsel