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.

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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

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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.

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Example Sentences

In May, Russia called for the immediate closure of the high representative's office during a UN Security Council meeting on events in the Balkan nation.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe were also elected to the Security Council, which is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorising use of force.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Several members of the Security Council also support replacing UNIFIL, particularly China and Russia.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Security Council, where most nations get rotating seats but no veto.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Later that afternoon McNamara drove back to the White House for a National Security Council meeting.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin