counselor

Everyday

1. A trained person whose job is to listen to people and help them with personal problems, worries or feelings: «a school counselor». tree →
2. (US, Canada) A camp counselor: a young adult who looks after children at a summer camp. tree →
3. (US, law) A lawyer, especially in court: «Counselor, please approach the bench». tree →
4. (formal, old) An adviser to a king, queen or leader. tree →

In the lessons

In school and wellbeing lessons, children learn that a school counselor is a safe, trusted adult to talk to about worries, bullying or sadness, and that such talks are private unless someone is at risk. In American summer-camp stories, counselors run activities. In American TV courtroom dramas, judges call lawyers «counselor». In the Bible, God is called «Wonderful Counselor» in Isaiah. Phrases: «school counselor», «guidance counselor», «camp counselor», «marriage counselor».

Examples

• I talked to the school counselor when my parents split up. tree →
• Our camp counselor taught us to paddle a canoe. tree →
• The guidance counselor helped my sister choose her classes. tree →
• «Objection, counselor!» said the judge. tree →
• The king's counselors advised him not to go to war. tree →
• The counselor listened without judging me. tree →
• If something worries you, a counselor is a good person to tell. tree →

Note

American spelling: counselor (one l); British, Irish, Australian and NZ: counsellor (double l); Canada uses both. Homophone trap: «councillor» (UK) or «councilor» (US) is a member of a town council, a different job. «Counsel» means advice or to advise; «council» is a group that runs a town.