An agony aunt is a person who writes a column in a newspaper or magazine in which they reply to readers who have written to them for advice on their personal problems.
[British]regional note: in AM, use advice columnist
agony aunt in British English
or masculine agony uncle
noun
(sometimes capital)
a person who writes the replies to readers' letters in an agony column
Gender-netural form: advice columnist
agony aunt in American English
British, Informal
a person, esp. a woman, who replies to the letters of readers in a newspaper or magazinecolumn (agony column) giving advice, consolation, etc.
Examples of 'agony aunt' in a sentence
agony aunt
Do you find yourself scrolling through emails under the duvet while your beloved reads agony aunt columns?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
WHAT did the agony aunt say to her son who was bad at maths?
The Sun (2010)
I have more agony aunts than aunts.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She says that these days she is more of an agony aunt to women in the City who feel powerless.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her ability to understand others will make her a wonderful agony aunt, as well as helping her to write brilliant songs.
The Sun (2013)
She was Africa's first agony aunt.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Give her an agony aunt column, she'll make the world a better place.
The Sun (2015)
Fancy learning what's involved in being an agony aunt - or uncle?
The Sun (2013)
I'd long been the go-to agony aunt for my friends and had been in the same job for eight years.