adviser

noun

ad·​vis·​er əd-ˈvī-zər How to pronounce adviser (audio)
variants or advisor
: someone who gives advice
a financial/investment adviser
She was not signing on as a domestic or foreign-policy adviserPeggy Noonan
In this meeting, Clifford, who had been a senior Truman aide and an adviser to Kennedy, used George Ball's memorandums in pleading that the war could not be won.Sidney Blumenthal
In December, she and her thesis advisor, Neal Evans, used the camera, attached to a 50-inch telescope, to look for infant stars in a giant molecular cloud in the constellation Orion.Andrew Chaikin
In a real sense, the emperor's astronomical ministers functioned like advisors in a modern president's cabinet, advising him on how best to conduct the affairs of state in a harmonious and effective manner.Laurence A. Marschall

Did you know?

What's the difference between adviser and advisor?

Adviser or advisor? It doesn't matter what your computer's spellcheck tells you, adviser and advisor are both correct. Although there is enough overlap between these two words that they are generally considered simply to be different ways to spell the same word, there are some cases in which one tends to be used more often than the other. Some people feel that advisor is more formal, and it tends to be found more often when applied to official positions, such as an advisor to a president. When referring to someone who is serving in a military role, especially when using the term as a euphemism (as when claiming that troops are actually military advisers), then adviser is somewhat more common.

Examples of adviser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pass the Torch is backed by Steve Schmidt, a former adviser to the late Sen. John McCain, aiming to raise millions, with over $1 million spent on initial ads, according to the Washington Post. Eden Villalovas, Washington Examiner, 27 Nov. 2023 But many shoppers are sticking to their lists and don't seem excited about the discounts out there, said Marshal Cohen, chief retail adviser at Circana, a market research firm, who visited 11 different malls in South Florida on Friday. Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023 Rand Corporation, America’s most prominent avowedly nonpartisan think tank, and the leading policy adviser to the Department of Defense, is all in on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Kenin M. Spivak, National Review, 25 Nov. 2023 Former Obama administration adviser and State Department official Stuart Seldowitz has been arrested and charged for allegedly harassing a food cart vendor in New York City. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Nov. 2023 Knowing No Labels: Manchin advisers are still in touch with No Labels as the group continues to work to access state ballots. Mark Murray, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023 Carter eschewed a ceremonial role as first lady, and instead served as a close political and policy adviser to her husband, former president Jimmy Carter. Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023 Few fellow scientists, almost all of them men, would have been in such a position: They wouldn’t have been expected to deal with child care, and most dared not perform an experiment with illicit materials while their advisers were out of town. Brandy Schillace, WSJ, 14 Nov. 2023 In an interview with Jonathan Kalb, the resident literary adviser and dramaturg at Theatre for a New Audience, Shannon and Sparks dig into how personal this Godot is for them. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adviser.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1536, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adviser was circa 1536

Dictionary Entries Near adviser

Cite this Entry

“Adviser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adviser. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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