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• privy council
  privy council

  noun

  a board or select body of personal advisers, as of a sovereign.
• Privy Council
  Privy Council

  noun

  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

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

See Examples For:

privy council Privy Council

"I have this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Privy Council office tendering his resignation from the privy council with immediate effect," the statement continued.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

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

From Washington Post ● Apr. 15, 2023

Although he was a Protestant, he was a supporter of the Scotland's Catholic regent, and in 1561 he was appointed to the privy council by the newly widowed Mary on her return to Scotland.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2022

Senior sources said a privy council of senior ministers was preparing to meet the Queen at Balmoral this week, perhaps as soon as Wednesday to set this in motion.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 28, 2019

Beecher, Knt., clerk to privy council, and dying 4 Aug. 1640, left issue a dau.,

From Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume II (of 2) A full account of the colony and its inhabitants from the time of the Caribs to the present day by Anonymous

But there was still a little bit of doubt that there may be a further hurdle ahead because, the law would need Royal Assent from the Privy Council.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Senior politicians who attend the Privy Council will see the monarch on a regular basis.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025

He is a member of the Privy Council.

From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2024

He appealed first to courts in Jamaica before taking his case to the Privy Council in London, which serves as the highest court of appeal in Jamaica and other Commonwealth countries.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2024

Parkinson was hauled before the Privy Council for questioning and came within an ace of being dispatched in irons to Australia before the charges against him were quietly dropped.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson