council

[ koun-suhl ]

/ ˈkaʊn səl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for council on Thesaurus.com

noun

an assembly of persons summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice.

a body of persons specially designated or selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity: the governor's council on housing.

(in certain British colonies or dependencies) an executive or legislative body assisting the governor.

an ecclesiastical assembly for deciding matters of doctrine or discipline.

New Testament. the Sanhedrin or other authoritative body.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of council

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

words often confused with council

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 council

sub·coun·cil, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH council

1. consul, council , counsel (see confusables note at the current entry)2. board, committee, council , panel, trust

Words nearby council

Coulter pine, Coumadin, coumarin, coumarone, coumarone resin, council, council area, Council Bluffs, council fire, Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, councillor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use council in a sentence

There’s a clear lack of regional diversity in many AI advisory boards, expert panels, and councils.
AI ethics groups are repeating one of society’s classic mistakes|Amy Nordrum|September 14, 2020|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.
This Weekend: You’ll Never Bathe the Same Way Again|Joshua Eferighe|August 21, 2020|Ozy
Others have created new internal councils focused on diversity and inclusion.
‘Urgent need’: How agencies are deploying diversity and inclusion execs, forming new councils to create more equitable companies|Kristina Monllos|August 21, 2020|Digiday
You attend a neighborhood council meeting, just to see what happens when you rise to speak.
The first murder|Katie McLean|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

City councils, for instance, are making legislative decisions when they adopt new policies that will apply broadly going forward.
Politics Report: Mara Elliott, Plumber|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|August 1, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
A spokesman for Lewisham council said last year that it would be forced to act if the family returned to Britain.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Haringey Council told The Daily Beast that the children had not been taken permanently into state care.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kirill represented the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in the early 1970s.
Remembering the Russian Priest Who Fought the Orthodox Church|Cathy Young|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thinking there was another way, I met a few times with the president of the Interfraternity Council.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The council of Trent was prorogued for two years; it did not assemble again until 1562.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
For a "cold collation on the occasion of the audit" our Council always allows 10.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
By the last-mentioned staircase access is obtained by the general public to the Council Chamber.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The royal Audiencia has investigated this matter, on petition of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Old feuds were settled in the old way and six inches of steel were more potent than the longest Order in Council.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for council

council

/ (ˈkaʊnsəl) /

noun

an assembly of people meeting for discussion, consultation, etcan emergency council

a body of people elected or appointed to serve in an administrative, legislative, or advisory capacitya student council

the council (sometimes capital) British the local governing authority of a town, county, etc

a meeting or the deliberation of a council

(modifier) of, relating to, provided for, or used by a local councila council chamber; council offices

(modifier) British provided by a local council, esp (of housing) at a subsidized renta council house; a council estate

Australian an administrative or legislative assembly, esp the upper house of a state parliament in Australia

Christianity an assembly of bishops, theologians, and other representatives of several churches or dioceses, convened for regulating matters of doctrine or discipline

Word Origin for council

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

undefined council

Avoid confusion with counsel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

council

Origin of council

words often confused with council

OTHER WORDS FROM council

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH council

Words nearby council

Words related to council

How to use council in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for council

Word Origin for council

undefined council