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

• consultant
• adviser
• counsel
• advisor
• expert

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

After an initial jam session to determine musical abilities and interests, participants are paired up and assigned to a counselor who manages their activities for the week. —Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

She was gratified to see the man there in the counselor's office that day. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025

He got married, was employed as a counselor and free of incidences for 10 years before a car accident took his life. —Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025

His mother was a mental health counselor and his father an architect. —Michael Collins, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

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