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

Only 54% of counselors recommend trades, versus 88% who recommend universities. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

The camp is seeking to reorganize after 27 campers and counselors died in the 2025 Guadalupe River flood; a state legislative probe found an earlier evacuation could have saved every life. — Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Twenty-five campers and two counselors were killed when the river surged over its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, 2025. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, as spiking bond yields keep the Treasury Department in the spotlight, CNBC’s Matt Peterson reported this morning that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has hired Wall Street economist David Zervos as a counselor. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Sep. 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