Guru
What it means
A respected expert who offers knowledgeable guidance.
Reach for it when referring informally to a highly respected expert who teaches or advises
The gardening guru showed beginners how to restore poor soil.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
|
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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warm
Fits when ongoing guidance develops another person's ability
Careful A mentor need not be the field's leading technical authority.
-
professional
adviser
Fits when practical recommendations are the person's main role
Careful An adviser may synthesize others' knowledge without being a master of the subject.
-
professional
Fits when verified knowledge or skill is the relevant qualification
Careful Expert is evidence-based and neutral but does not imply teaching, influence, or personal following.
-
professional
specialist
Fits when narrow, trained competence should be stated precisely
Careful Specialist is more bounded than guru and carries no claim of broad influence.
-
formal
authority
Fits when recognized command of a subject is central
Careful Authority can also mean institutional power and may sound unquestionable.
-
literary
Fits when exceptional command of a craft deserves elevated praise
Careful Master can sound hierarchical, gendered, or inflated when competence is merely strong.
Opposites 3
- novice
- pupil
- amateur
Common phrases 3
-
marketing guru
The marketing guru showed the cooperative how to test claims honestly.
-
tech guru
A local tech guru repaired the network and documented every step.
-
self-styled guru
The self-styled guru offered confidence but no verifiable credentials.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Guru is a spiritual teacher in Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain traditions. Casual expert language can trivialize that religious role.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated