What does tutor mean?
A tutor is someone who helps another person learn, most often by providing private lessons or small-group instruction. The word is especially common when a student needs extra help with a subject, is preparing for an examination, or is receiving academic guidance. In British university settings, a tutor may also be an academic who supervises students, discusses their coursework, and monitors their progress. As a verb, “tutor” means to teach, guide, or supervise someone in this way. The term can imply close individual attention rather than the broad classroom teaching associated with “teacher,” although the boundaries are not absolute. It also has a formal, established history in education, derived from the Latin word for a guardian or protector.
A person who gives instruction, especially through private lessons or in small groups; at some universities, an academic who supervises students and reviews their work.
"She arranged a private tutor for her son."
The university meaning is particularly common in British English. In general educational contexts, a tutor usually gives more individual attention than a classroom teacher.
To teach, guide, or supervise someone, especially by giving private instruction or helping with academic work.
"He tutors several students in mathematics each week."
The verb is standard in educational and academic contexts and can describe both private instruction and university supervision.
The standard plural of the noun is “tutors,” as in “a team of tutors.”
"The school hired several tutors to support students with their coursework."
Tutor began as a guardian: the word's Latin root referred to someone responsible for protecting a child before it came to mean the person teaching that child.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tutor come from?
English “tutor” comes through Old French from Latin tutor, a guardian or protector, ultimately connected with Latin tutus, meaning “safe,” and the family of Latin words associated with protection. The word was adopted in educational contexts for someone entrusted with guiding a learner. Its academic meanings developed later, including the university sense of an academic who supervises students. “Tuition,” “tutelage,” and “tutela” reflect the same broad Latin root of protection, guardianship, or teaching.
Related word forms
How tutor is actually used
The noun is common in both British and American English for private or small-group instruction. The university sense, in which a tutor is an academic adviser or supervisor, is especially associated with British English, though it is also used elsewhere. As a verb, tutor can sound formal but is fully standard in educational contexts.
Easily confused with tutor
A tutor usually provides instruction to an individual student or a small group, whereas a teacher commonly instructs a class of pupils or students.