Security Council

American

noun

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

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Security Council Cultural

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Within Iran, the country's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said contingency plans were being activated.

From Barron's

The United Nations Security Council, meanwhile, has called for an emergency meeting today at 4 p.m.

From Barron's

An emergency UN Security Council meeting has been called for later on Saturday.

From BBC

In August it re-established the National Defense Council under the Supreme National Security Council, a body that existed during the long conflict with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023