tutorial
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words describe resources that help someone learn or do something, but they differ in format and purpose. A 'guide' is the broadest term — it can be a book, website, or even a person giving advice, and it covers general principles rather than step-by-step tasks. A 'manual' is a comprehensive reference document that explains every feature of a product or system (e.g., a car repair manual), often dense and not meant for quick learning. A 'walkthrough' focuses on showing each action in sequence, with the learner following along; it is most common in video gaming and software where the user needs to replicate exact steps. A 'demonstration' (or 'demo') is a live or recorded showing of how something works, often used by a teacher or presenter without requiring the audience to follow along simultaneously. 'Tutorial' sits between these — it is more structured than a demonstration, more beginner-focused than a manual, and typically interactive in a way that a guide may not be. For example, a 'YouTube tutorial on knitting' would show each stitch in order, while a 'sewing guide' might discuss fabric types and needle sizes more broadly.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'tutorial' comes from the Latin 'tutela' (guardianship or protection), which passed through 'tutor' (a guardian or teacher) and then into English in the 1700s. The suffix '-ial' (from Latin '-ialis') turns the noun 'tutor' into an adjective meaning 'related to a tutor.' By the 1800s, the adjective was also used as a noun to describe the teaching sessions themselves — first in British universities, then later applied to any instructional material in the digital age.