Judy RosemarinLynn OlsonWill Manley
Did you know?
Mentor is pretty ubiquitous in today’s world as a word for anyone who is a positive, guiding influence in another (usually younger) person's life, but no matter your age we’re here to guide you through the word's history. Mentor comes originally from ancient Greek literature: in Homer's epic The Odyssey, Odysseus is away from home fighting and journeying for 20 years. During that time, Telemachus, the son he left as a babe in arms, grows up under the supervision of Méntōr, an old and trusted friend. When the goddess Athena decides it is time to complete the education of young Telemachus, she visits him disguised as Méntōr and they set out together to learn about his father. A version of Méntōr (written as Mentor) later appeared as a major character in the Odyssey-inspired French novel Les aventures de Télémaque (1699) by François Fénelon, after which it became a generic noun for “trusted guide” in that language before being borrowed into English with the same meaning.
Examples of mentor in a Sentence
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Throughout seven weeks, the teams have $100,000 to tackle all the updates to the properties while being guided through the challenges by their mentors, which include Baeumler, Ty Pennington and Mika Kleinschmidt.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
News Desk, Artforum, 15 June 2026
In Mizrahi's new role, the fashion designer, who is known for his vibrant colors and who burst on the design scene in the late 1980s, will mentor Target designers, advise on product design and innovation and bring on fresh new partnerships, the company said Monday.
—CBS News, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mentor
Cite this Entry
“Mentor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mentor
1 of 2 noun
mentor
2 of 2 verbGeographical Definition
Mentor
geographical name
