Security Council

American  

noun

1. the division of the United Nations charged with maintaining international peace, composed of five permanent members (U.S., Russian Federation, France, United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China) and ten temporary members, each serving for two years.

---

Security Council British  

noun

1. a permanent organ of the United Nations established to maintain world peace. It consists of five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) and ten nonpermanent members

---

Security Council Cultural  

1. An important division of the United Nations that contains five permanent members — the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia — and ten rotating members. It is often called into session to respond quickly to international crises. Any permanent member can exercise a veto over a resolution before the Security Council.

---

Example Sentences

Amid claim and counterclaim Russia on Friday had requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Usually, the National Security Council holds interagency meetings—first among midlevel experts, then with Cabinet secretaries and the president himself—to hammer out positions on various major issues.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

Security Council resolution backed by the U.A.E. that would have authorized the use of force to reopen the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

"In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when Nato invoked Article Five for the first time, and the United Nations Security Council was united in the face of terror, we answered the call together," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

His estimate came in for ridicule when Stassen presented the task force findings to the National Security Council on December 22.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik