tutelage
noun
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Tutelage comes from the Latin verb tueri, meaning "to look at" or "to guard." When it first appeared in English at the turn of the 17th century, this word was used mainly in the protective sense of tueri; writers would describe serfs and peasants of earlier eras as being "under the tutelage of their lord." Over time, however, the word's meaning shifted away from guardianship and toward instruction. This pattern of meaning can also be seen in the related nouns tutor, which shifted from "a guardian" to "a private teacher," and tuition, which now typically refers to the cost of instruction but which originally referred to the protection, care, or custody by a parent or guardian over a child or ward.
Examples of tutelage in a Sentence
Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
English men and women reading the book about the Algonquians, on the other hand, saw them as a people who would, under the right tutelage, adopt English-style culture – including Protestant Christianity.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 25 May 2026
After this matchup always pinned quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert, who were consecutive draft picks in 2020, Tagovailoa is no longer with Miami while Herbert is still with the Chargers under McDaniel’s tutelage.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
And some of those guys, like Crosby and Erik Karlsson, will be around in future seasons to offer tutelage and a foundation.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tutelage
Cite this Entry
“Tutelage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tutelage. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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tutelage
noun
