council

1 of 2

noun

coun·​cil ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 

1

: an assembly or meeting for consultation, advice, or discussion

the Second Vatican Council

2

: a group elected or appointed as an advisory or legislative body

a governor's council

a city council

3

a

: a usually administrative body

a council on housing

b

: an executive body whose members are equal in power and authority

c

: a governing body of delegates from local units of a federation

4

: deliberation in a council

5

a

: a federation of or a central body uniting a group of organizations

the National Council of Teachers of English

b

: a local chapter of an organization

c

: club, society

council

2 of 2

adjective

1

: used for councils especially by or with North American Indians

a council ground

2

British : built, maintained, or operated by a local governing agency

council housing

council flats

Synonyms

Noun

• assembly
• congress
• convention
• convocation
• gathering
• get-together
• huddle
• meeting

Examples of council in a Sentence

Noun

The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants.

the governor's council on physical fitness

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Writing to our local representatives and council and supporting initiatives alone could significantly improve our great city. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

Patel is a 29-year-old municipal council member who also describes herself as a progressive. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

Last year, the city council proposed $17 million for both recycling carts and trash carts. —Kynala Phillips, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

The council and city must follow and go to where our residents are and listen. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024

Advertisement On Wednesday, council members, in their position as board members of the Encinitas Public Financing Authority, approved the issuing of up to $6 million in bonds to pay for purchasing the property. —Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024

Calexico resoundingly ousts its first transgender mayor and a council ally. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

After the fact, the council will interview and appoint its new members. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

Members of the council wanted information and accountability. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Many non-council meetings, like school boards, aren’t livestreamed at all. —Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2023

Barth has previously served as an at-large member of the council and was council vice president from 2013-15. —Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, 6 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English counceil, from Anglo-French cunseil, cuncile, from Latin concilium, from com- + calare to call — more at low entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing council

• city council
• council of ministers
• executive council
• legislative council
• privy council
• student council

Kids Definition

council

noun

coun·​cil

ˈkau̇n(t)-səl

1

: a meeting for consultation

2

: an advisory or legislative body

the governor's council

3

: an administrative body

city council

Legal Definition

council

noun

coun·​cil ˈkau̇n-səl 

: a governmental body: as

a

: a group elected as a legislative body

city council

b

: an administrative body

council on aging

c

: an executive body whose members are equal in power and authority compare committee sense 2b