privy council

American  

noun

1. a board or select body of personal advisers, as of a sovereign.

2. (initial capital letters)  (in Great Britain) a body of persons who advise the sovereign in matters of state, the majority of members being selected by the prime minister.

3. (sometimes initial capital letters)  any similar body, as one appointed to assist the governor of a British dominion.

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privy council ¹ British  

noun

1. the council of state of a monarch or noble, esp formerly

2. (in Canada) a ceremonial body of advisers of the governor general, the chief of them being the Federal cabinet ministers

3. archaic  a private or secret council

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Privy Council ² British  

noun

1. the private council of the British sovereign, consisting of all current and former ministers of the Crown and other distinguished subjects, all of whom are appointed for life See also Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

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Other Word Forms

• Privy Counsellor noun
• privy councilor noun

Etymology

Origin of privy council

1250–1300; Middle English prive counseil privy counsel

Example Sentences

Technically the privy council is not covered by the lese majeste law, which states that it is an offence to defame only the king, queen, heir to the throne or anyone acting as regent.

From BBC

In that article he had accused the king’s top advisory body, the privy council, of helping engineer the 2014 military coup which deposed an administration led by his sister Yingluck.

From BBC

The privy council announced on Friday that King Charles III had granted permission for the burial.

From BBC

"I thought I'm going to buy a modern dress" and then embroider it with the fern motif of the privy council "as a nod to the past".

From BBC

In January, Franklin was summoned to appear before the privy council, the king’s most senior advisers.

From Washington Post