1
a
: a person who gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person especially in a professional or academic context
… a good mentor can model for you the things you need to do to learn and grow, what battles to fight, what steps to be taken …—
Judy Rosemarin
Judy RosemarinBusiness partners typically provide mentors, on-the-job training, and summer … work experiences in industry.—Lynn Olson
Lynn Olson
b
old-fashioned
: a teacher, tutor, or coach
The student sought a mentor in chemistry.
2
Mentor
: a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus
mentored; mentoring; mentors
: to teach or give advice or guidance to (someone less experienced) : to act as a mentor for
When I was a young library director … older and wiser library administrators quickly mentored me on the dynamics of the director-board relationship.—Will Manley
Will Manley
mentoring
noun
new employees in need of mentoring
Examples of mentor in a Sentence
Noun
After college, her professor became her close friend and mentor.
He needed a mentor to teach him about the world of politics.
We volunteer as mentors to disadvantaged children.
young boys in need of mentors
Verb
The young intern was mentored by the country's top heart surgeon.
Our program focuses on mentoring teenagers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Across the rest of his career, Young Bleed remained prolific, continuing to hop between labels while becoming a mentor to a new generation of hip-hop.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2025
Erin McMullen, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Nvidia will help train and mentor emerging deep tech startups in India as a founding member of a $2 billion investment alliance, deepening its presence in the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mentor
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Noun
Condoleezza Rice remembers Cheney as mentor and patriot Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid tribute to Vice President Dick Cheney, calling him a mentor, friend, and tireless defender of the United States.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Across the rest of his career, Young Bleed remained prolific, continuing to hop between labels while becoming a mentor to a new generation of hip-hop.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Earlier this year, the Scottish government awarded funding to GGI that will be used to mentor 25 young African climate leaders through a year-long fellowship program.
—Erin McMullen, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Nvidia will help train and mentor emerging deep tech startups in India as a founding member of a $2 billion investment alliance, deepening its presence in the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mentor
Cite this Entry
“Mentor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mentor
1 of 2 noun
men·tor
ˈmen-ˌtȯ(ə)r 
ˈment-ər
: a wise and faithful adviser or teacher
mentor
2 of 2 verb
: to serve as a mentor for : tutor
a volunteer who mentors students
Geographical Definition
Mentor
geographical name
Men·tor
ˈmen-tər
city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Cleveland population 47,159
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