council
Americannoun
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an assembly of persons summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice.
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a body of persons specially designated or selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity.
the governor's council on housing.
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(in certain British colonies or dependencies) an executive or legislative body assisting the governor.
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an ecclesiastical assembly for deciding matters of doctrine or discipline.
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New Testament. the Sanhedrin or other authoritative body.
noun
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an assembly of people meeting for discussion, consultation, etc
an emergency council
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a body of people elected or appointed to serve in an administrative, legislative, or advisory capacity
a student council
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(sometimes capital) the local governing authority of a town, county, etc
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a meeting or the deliberation of a council
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(modifier) of, relating to, provided for, or used by a local council
a council chamber
council offices
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(modifier) provided by a local council, esp (of housing) at a subsidized rent
a council house
a council estate
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an administrative or legislative assembly, esp the upper house of a state parliament in Australia
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Christianity an assembly of bishops, theologians, and other representatives of several churches or dioceses, convened for regulating matters of doctrine or discipline
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was chosen by a council of elders to convey the word of God and usher in a global revival of Islamic tradition.
On Sunday morning, Iranian state television formally confirmed Khamenei's death, before swiftly announcing the formation of a temporary council of three men to assume executive authority.
From BBC
A three-person council will temporarily handle the supreme leader’s duties, with the Assembly of Experts selecting a new leader.
“My real preference would be a fully staffed LAPD, and then we don’t have any cameras,” said Jim Fitzgerald, who lives in Venice and serves on its neighborhood council.
From Los Angeles Times
It has secured land rights, permission to use the local electrical grid and is currently beginning the planning process with local councils.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
