someone who gives advice about problems
"After her difficult breakup, Sarah visited a counselor to help process her feelings and navigate life again."
someone who has supervisory duties at a summer camp
"The counselor spent every evening checking on the campers to ensure everyone was safe and following rules."
a lawyer who pleads cases in court
"The defense counselor argued passionately during the closing statements to persuade the jury of his client's innocence."
A professional who counsels people, especially on personal problems.
"The school counselor met with the student to discuss his anxiety and study habits."
In plain English: A counselor is someone who listens to your problems and helps you figure out how to solve them.
"She asked her school counselor for advice on choosing a college major."
Usage: Use counselor to refer specifically to professionals like therapists or guidance advisors rather than general consultants. This term is often confused with the British spelling "counsellor," which denotes the same role but follows different regional conventions.
The word counselor comes from the Latin consiliator, meaning "one who gives advice," which entered English through Anglo-Norman and French. It eventually replaced older native terms like redere, literally translating to "advice-giver."