mentor

1 of 2

noun

men·​tor ˈmen-ˌtȯr How to pronounce mentor (audio)
-tər
1
capitalized : a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus
2
a
: a trusted counselor or guide
a mentor who, because he is detached and disinterested, can hold up a mirror to usP. W. Keve
b
: tutor, coach
The student sought a mentor in chemistry.

mentor

2 of 2

verb

mentored; mentoring; mentors

transitive verb

: to serve as a mentor for : tutor

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
Noun
Plot details are being kept under the doji, but it is known that the new installment will bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China (Wang) who, as per Karate Kid lore, finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or two). Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Yamamoto was influenced by his mentor, the architect Hiroshi Hara, designer of the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka, which features two towers connected at the top by glass bridges and is now considered a landmark. Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The character begins as ducal heir on the planet Caladan, training under his father (played by Oscar Isaac), mother (Rebecca Ferguson), mentor (Josh Brolin), swordmaster (Jason Momoa) and teacher (Stephen McKinley Henderson). Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 After college, Thompson studied under Tyus for seven years, learning the fundamentals of the craft until his mentor retired. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 Build a Support Network: Cultivate relationships with mentors, sponsors, and allies who can provide guidance, support, and advocacy. Kalina Bryant, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In December 2019, a 16-year-old Laroi watched his close friend, mentor, and collaborator Juice WRLD die in front of him, just days after his 21st birthday. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 After a few months, the owls were transferred to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s bird conservation center, where they were eventually paired with the other two owls that were released Tuesday — older birds that acted as mentors, Wisinski explained. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024 Many Black women have made waves in country music for decades — as noted by former American Idol mentor Bobby Bones, the genre’s origins are partially indebted to African music. EW.com, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Transforming feelings of distress into positive action after being mentored by the pioneering social worker Jane Addams in Chicago, Stansbury, a native of Illinois, would turn up again in Detroit. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 There is also a new award this year, named the Savoir-Faire prize, that will grant €200,000 and a year’s mentoring program to a designer exhibiting exceptional craftsmanship, technical expertise, or sustainability practice. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 In fact, a recent study confirms that 92% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentorship programs and median profits were three times higher at companies with mentoring programs. Chris Moore, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 So Paul assimilates into the Fremen world, learning to survive in the desert, ride the gigantic sandworms that populate it, and eventually gain enough local cred to woo Chani (Zendaya), a Fremen woman tasked with mentoring him. David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 He was inspired and mentored by Cicely Saunders, a British nurse and social worker. Anand Kumar, STAT, 27 Feb. 2024 There’s a strong disconnect between Gen Zers — eager to teach and be taught — and the leaders who could be mentoring them. Lisa Conn, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Perhaps none of Hoover’s colleagues were as upset about the rumors as Adrienne Keene, whom Hoover had mentored at Brown. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Wood is excited about the chance to mentor up-and-coming teammates. Haley Smilow, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

as name borrowed from Latin Mentōr, borrowed from Greek Méntōr; as generic noun borrowed from French mentor, after Mentor, character in the novel Les aventures de Télémaque (1699) by the French cleric and writer François Fénelon (1651-1715), based on characters in the Odyssey

Note: In Fénelon's work Mentor is a principal character, and his speeches and advice to Telemachus during their travels constitute much of the book's substance.

Verb

derivative of mentor entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mentor was in 1616

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near mentor

Cite this Entry

“Mentor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mentor

1 of 2 noun
men·​tor ˈmen-ˌtȯ(ə)r How to pronounce mentor (audio)
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 How to pronounce Mentor (audio)
city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Cleveland population 47,159

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