consultor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / TechnicalFormal, Technical, Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “consultor” mean?
A person who gives expert advice, especially in a specific professional or technical field.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who gives expert advice, especially in a specific professional or technical field; an adviser.
Historically, in the Roman Catholic Church, a consultor is a priest appointed to advise a bishop, major superior, or commission on official matters, usually within a specific department of a diocese or religious institute. More generally, a person consulted for their professional judgment or technical knowledge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties treat the word as rare. There is no significant difference in its general use, but its canonical usage is consistent within the global Catholic Church.
Connotations
Primarily associated with ecclesiastical governance. In non-ecclesiastical contexts, it may sound archaic or pretentiously formal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both BrE and AmE corpora. Almost exclusively used in specific Catholic Church documents and contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “consultor” in a Sentence
Consultor to + [noun phrase]Consultor of + [noun phrase]Serve as a consultor on/forVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “consultor” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- the consultor role is defined by canon law.
American English
- The consultor position on the tribunal was filled last year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. Use 'consultant' or 'advisor'.
Academic
Rarely used outside of theological or canonical studies.
Everyday
Effectively non-existent. An everyday speaker would not use this word.
Technical
Used almost exclusively within the technical jargon of Roman Catholic Church administration (canon law, diocesan structures).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “consultor”
- Using 'consultor' for a general business consultant.
- Misspelling as 'consulter', which is a different, equally rare word meaning 'one who consults'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While they are synonyms, 'consultant' is the standard term in business, medicine, etc. 'Consultor' is an extremely rare, formal term now almost exclusively used within the administrative structures of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is highly inadvisable. It would sound archaic, pretentious, or simply incorrect. Use 'consultant' or 'advisor'.
Because it is a distinct word with a specific, active meaning in a major global institution (the Catholic Church). A complete lexicon includes technical and specialized terms.
A 'consultant' is a general professional hired for advice (e.g., management consultant). A 'consultor' specifically refers to a person appointed to an official advisory body, especially an ecclesiastical one. A consultant is a job title; a consultor is often an official role or appointment.
A person who gives expert advice, especially in a specific professional or technical field.
Consultor is usually formal, technical, ecclesiastical in register.
Consultor: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈsʌl.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈsʌl.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “consultors' council”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CONSULT' + 'OR'. This is a person whose official ROLE is to be CONSULTED.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADVISING IS GIVING LIGHT (historical link: consultors help 'illuminate' decisions).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'consultor' most likely to be used correctly?