council

¹coun·cil

noun \ˈkau̇n(t)-səl\

Definition of COUNCIL

1

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

2

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

3

a : a usually administrative body

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

b : a local chapter of an organization

c : club, society

Examples of COUNCIL

1. The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants.
2. the governor's council on physical fitness

Origin of COUNCIL

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

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to COUNCIL

Synonyms

assembly, congress, convention, convocation, meeting, gathering, get-together, huddle, powwow

Related Words

clinic, workshop; cabinet, caucus, conclave, synod; demonstration, rally; confab, conversation, dialogue (also dialog), discourse, discussion, palaver, talk; negotiation, parley, summit; conference, forum, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium; audience, interview, session

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

²council

adjective

Definition of COUNCIL

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>

First Known Use of COUNCIL

14th century

Rhymes with COUNCIL

counsel