tutor
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A tutor gives private academic help outside of regular school, usually one-on-one or in a tiny group. A coach focuses on building a specific skill — common in sports ('basketball coach') or test preparation ('SAT coach') — and often pushes toward a performance goal. A mentor provides long-term guidance on career or personal development rather than subject knowledge; the relationship is broader and less formal. An instructor teaches a practical skill in a structured way, often in a course setting ('driving instructor', 'swim instructor'). A teacher works with a full class in a school or institution and follows a curriculum. For example: 'Her math tutor helped with homework twice a week', but 'Her mentor at work advised her on career moves' — the two roles serve very different purposes even if the same person fills both.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'tutor' comes from Latin 'tutor', meaning 'guardian or watcher', which itself comes from the verb 'tueri', meaning 'to watch over, protect, or look after'. It entered English in the late 1300s through Old French 'tutour', originally referring to a legal guardian of a minor. By the 1500s, the meaning had shifted toward 'private teacher', since a tutor was seen as someone who watched over a student's learning — a guardian of their education rather than their person.