advice

[ ad-vahys ]

noun

1. an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.:

   I shall act on your advice.

   Synonyms: guidance, caution, warning, admonition

2. a communication, especially from a distance, containing information:

   Advice from abroad informs us that the government has fallen.

   Recent diplomatic advices have been ominous.

   Synonyms: word, intelligence

3. an official notification, especially one pertaining to a business agreement:

   an overdue advice.

   Synonyms: advisory, notice

advice

/ ədˈvaɪs /

noun

1. recommendation as to appropriate choice of action; counsel
2. sometimes plural formal notification of facts, esp when communicated from a distance

Other Words From

• pread·vice noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of advice¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; late Middle English advise; replacing Middle English avis (with ad- ad- for a- a- ⁵ ), Old French a vis (taken from the phrase ce m'est a vis “that is my impression, it seems to me”), from Latin ad ( ad- ) + vīsus “looking, sight” ( visage )

Word History and Origins

Origin of advice¹

C13: avis (later advise ), via Old French from a Vulgar Latin phrase based on Latin ad to, according to + vīsum view (hence: according to one's view, opinion)

Synonym Study

Advice, counsel, recommendation, suggestion, persuasion, exhortation refer to opinions urged with more or less force as worthy bases for thought, opinion, conduct, or action. Advice is a practical recommendation as to action or conduct: advice about purchasing land. Counsel is weighty and serious advice, given after careful deliberation: counsel about one's career. Recommendation is weaker than advice and suggests an opinion that may or may not be acted upon: Do you think he'll follow my recommendation? Suggestion implies something more tentative than a recommendation: He did not expect his suggestion to be taken seriously. Persuasion suggests a stronger form of advice, urged at some length with appeals to reason, emotion, self-interest, or ideals: His persuasion changed their minds. Exhortation suggests an intensified persuasion or admonition, often in the form of a discourse or address: an impassioned exhortation.

Example Sentences

The authors offer clear advice to scientists, policymakers, and universities: strengthen the role of design in delta management.

From Science Daily

Several Western governments updated their advice about alcohol dangers in South-East Asia on their consulate and travel pages this week.

From BBC

Melody takes the advice to heart when given a chance to “mainstream” with other sixth graders.

From New York Times

She asked her older brother for advice on what to do with her life, and he told her to “find the intersection of what you love and what you’re good at.”

From Los Angeles Times

This generic advice is helpful but does not go nearly far enough.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aid
• consultation
• encouragement
• guidance
• help
• information
• input
• instruction
• judgment
• lesson
• news
• opinion
• prescription
• proposal
• recommendation
• suggestion
• tip
• view
• warning
• word

Advice Vs. Advise

What's the difference between advice and advise?

Advice is a noun that means guidance about what someone should do. Advise is a verb that means to give someone advice about something.

Despite their very similar spelling, advice and advise are pronounced differently. Advice rhymes with ice, while advise rhymes with prize.

Because the two words are so closely related, they are often used in the same contexts, so the challenge is simply to remember which spelling to use for the noun and which spelling to use for the verb.

Our advice? Remember that, unlike advise, advice never gets an s, even at the end (advice is a mass noun, so it’s never pluralized as advices).

Here’s an example of advice and advise used correctly in a sentence.

Example: I advise you to get some professional financial advice before you start a business.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between advice and advise.

Quiz yourself on advice vs. advise!

Should advice or advise be used in the following sentence?

If you want my _____, just ask.