council

American  

[koun-suhl] / ˈkaʊn səl /

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.

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council British  

/ 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. (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

   a council chamber

   council offices

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

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Commonly Confused

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.

See counsel

Other Word Forms

• subcouncil noun

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Given that support was only just above the 15% threshold, it was decided at committee stage not to proceed with the new sign, and this was narrowly agreed by the full council.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The seven members of the central bank’s governing council, led by Gov. Tiff Macklem, agreed they could be patient in deciding how to respond to the economic fallout from the war in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Members of the governing council, which is responsible for rate-setting policy, said one of two scenarios are likely to unfold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

About 83% of children in Essex were offered their first choice school for the next academic year, the county council said earlier this month.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

She’s the head of the student council, and a star volleyball player, and always doing something charitable.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith