noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈkaʊnsələ(ɹ)/
/ˈkaʊnslə(ɹ)/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: councilor
CMU ARPABET:K AW1 N S AH0 L ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A professional who counsels people, especially on personal problems.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A school counselor, often in a specialty such as careers, education, or health.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: education
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An attorney.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: advocate, counsel, abogado, attorney, avocat, counselor, latitat, lawman, lawyer, legal representative, limb of the law, man of law
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A high ranking diplomat, usually just below an ambassador or minister.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A children’s supervisor, usually at camp.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a lawyer who pleads cases in court
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: counsellor
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: adviser, advisor, consultant
Narrower terms: Dutch uncle, Nestor
8
noun
Meaning 8
someone who has supervisory duties at a summer camp
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: counsellor
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: supervisor
History
Etymology
From Middle English counseilour, counseiler, from Anglo-Norman cunseiler, from Old French conseillier, from Latin cōnsiliārius, agent noun from cōnsilior (“to take counsel”), from cōnsilium (“plan, council, wisdom, advice”). Compare councilor. Displaced native Middle English redere, Middle English redesman, and Middle English redyeve, from Old English rǣdġiefa (literally “advice giver”).
Across languages
Translations
66 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
berader
— professional who counsels people
Albanian:
këshilltar
— professional who counsels people
Bulgarian:
съве́тник
(sǎvétnik)
— professional who counsels people
Chamorro:
a'akonseha
— professional who counsels people
Chinese Mandarin:
顧問 /顾问
(gùwèn)
— professional who counsels people
Czech:
poradce
— professional who counsels people
Czech:
poradkyně
— professional who counsels people
Faroese:
ráðgevi
— professional who counsels people
Finnish:
neuvoja
— professional who counsels people
French:
conseiller
— professional who counsels people
French:
conseillère
— professional who counsels people
Galician:
orientador
— professional who counsels people
Galician:
conselleiro
— professional who counsels people
German:
Berater
— professional who counsels people
German:
Beraterin
— professional who counsels people
Gothic:
𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐍃
(ragineis)
— professional who counsels people
Ancient Greek:
σύμβουλος
(súmboulos)
— professional who counsels people
Ancient Greek:
μήστωρ
(mḗstōr)
— professional who counsels people
Hebrew:
יוֹעֵץ
(yo'étz)
— professional who counsels people
Hindi:
परामर्शदाता
(parāmarśadātā)
— professional who counsels people
Hungarian:
tanácsadó
— professional who counsels people
Indonesian:
konselor
— professional who counsels people
Ingrian:
nevvoja
— professional who counsels people
Japanese:
顧問
(komon)
— professional who counsels people
Japanese:
相談役
(sōdan'yaku)
— professional who counsels people
Japanese:
カウンセラー
(kaunserā)
— professional who counsels people
Javanese:
mantri
— professional who counsels people
Latin:
consiliātor
— professional who counsels people
Macedonian:
советник
(sovetnik)
— professional who counsels people
Malay:
kaunselor
— professional who counsels people
Old English:
rǣdġiefa
— professional who counsels people
Old English:
wita
— professional who counsels people
Pannonian Rusyn:
совитнїк
(sovitnjik)
— professional who counsels people
Pannonian Rusyn:
совитнїца
(sovitnjica)
— professional who counsels people
Persian:
مشاور
(mošâver)
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
consilier
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
consilieră
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
sfătuitor
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
sfătuitoare
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
consultant
— professional who counsels people
Romanian:
consultantă
— professional who counsels people
Russian:
консульта́нт
(konsulʹtánt)
— professional who counsels people
Russian:
консульта́нтка
(konsulʹtántka)
— professional who counsels people
Russian:
сове́тник
(sovétnik)
— professional who counsels people
Russian:
сове́тница
(sovétnica)
— professional who counsels people
Scottish Gaelic:
neach-comhairle
— professional who counsels people
Spanish:
consejero
— professional who counsels people
Swedish:
kurator
— professional who counsels people
Swedish:
socialkurator
— professional who counsels people
Tagalog:
tagapayo
— professional who counsels people
Turkish:
nasihatçi
— professional who counsels people
Ottoman Turkish:
نصیحتجی
(nasihatci)
— professional who counsels people
Ukrainian:
ра́дник
(rádnyk)
— professional who counsels people
Ukrainian:
ра́дниця
(rádnycja)
— professional who counsels people
Welsh:
cynghorydd
— professional who counsels people