council

[ koun-suhl ]

noun

1. an assembly of persons summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice.
2. a body of persons specially designated or selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity:

   the governor's council on housing.

3. (in certain British colonies or dependencies) an executive or legislative body assisting the governor.
4. an ecclesiastical assembly for deciding matters of doctrine or discipline.
5. New Testament. the Sanhedrin or other authoritative body.

council

/ ˈkaʊnsəl /

noun

1. an assembly of people meeting for discussion, consultation, etc

   an emergency council

2. a body of people elected or appointed to serve in an administrative, legislative, or advisory capacity

   a student council

3. the council
   sometimes capital the local governing authority of a town, county, etc
4. a meeting or the deliberation of a council
5. modifier of, relating to, provided for, or used by a local council

   council offices

   a council chamber

6. modifier provided by a local council, esp (of housing) at a subsidized rent

   a council house

   a council estate

7. an administrative or legislative assembly, esp the upper house of a state parliament in Australia
8. Christianity an assembly of bishops, theologians, and other representatives of several churches or dioceses, convened for regulating matters of doctrine or discipline

Usage

See counsel

Confusables Note

Council, counsel, and consul are not interchangeable. Council is a noun. Its most common sense is “an assembly of persons convened for deliberation or the like.” It is generally used with a singular verb. A member of such a group is a councilor. Counsel is both noun and verb. Its most common meaning as a noun is “advice given to another”: His counsel on domestic relations is sound. A person giving such advice is a counselor. In law, counsel means “legal adviser or advisers” and can be either singular or plural. As a verb, counsel means “to advise.” The noun consul refers to the representative of a government who guards the welfare of its citizens in a foreign country.

Other Words From

• sub·council noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of council¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English co(u)nsile, from Anglo-French cuncil ( e ), Old French concile, from Late Latin concilium “synod, church council” ( Latin: “assembly”), probably equivalent to Latin con- con- + -cil(āre), combining form of calāre “to summon, convoke” + -ium -ium; Middle English -s- by association with Anglo-French cunseil counsel

Word History and Origins

Origin of council¹

C12: from Old French concile, from Latin concilium assembly, from com- together + calāre to call; influenced also by Latin consilium advice, counsel

Example Sentences

There’s a clear lack of regional diversity in many AI advisory boards, expert panels, and councils.

From MIT Technology Review

It follows two brainiac classmates who fall in love while leading their student council but are too proud to be the first to admit it.

From Ozy

Others have created new internal councils focused on diversity and inclusion.

From Digiday

You attend a neighborhood council meeting, just to see what happens when you rise to speak.

From MIT Technology Review

City councils, for instance, are making legislative decisions when they adopt new policies that will apply broadly going forward.

From Voice of San Diego

In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.

From The Daily Beast

A spokesman for Lewisham council said last year that it would be forced to act if the family returned to Britain.

From The Daily Beast

Haringey Council told The Daily Beast that the children had not been taken permanently into state care.

From The Daily Beast

Kirill represented the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in the early 1970s.

From The Daily Beast

Thinking there was another way, I met a few times with the president of the Interfraternity Council.

From The Daily Beast

The council of Trent was prorogued for two years; it did not assemble again until 1562.

From Project Gutenberg

For a "cold collation on the occasion of the audit" our Council always allows 10.

From Project Gutenberg

By the last-mentioned staircase access is obtained by the general public to the Council Chamber.

From Project Gutenberg

The royal Audiencia has investigated this matter, on petition of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council.

From Project Gutenberg

Old feuds were settled in the old way and six inches of steel were more potent than the longest Order in Council.

From Project Gutenberg