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

You are asked to be teachers, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, mentors, advocates, crisis managers and emotional anchors for children navigating an increasingly complicated world. —Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026

The decision came as the Missouri Attorney General’s Office is suing the city on behalf of a group of Christian counselors. —Dylan Lysen june 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026

Hiring for camp counselors has shot up by 30% over the last year, according to LinkedIn’s head of economics, and restaurant host and server jobs received a 10% boost. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 June 2026

The 8-1 majority sided with a Christian counselor in Colorado Springs who argued the state law’s ban on talk therapy violates the First Amendment. —Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 1 June 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