Synonyms of council

council

noun

ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 

1

as in meeting

a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose

a war council attended by the top commanders of each of the armed services

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meeting
• gathering
• conclave
• convention
• assembly
• synod
• congress
• convocation
• symposium
• workshop
• conference
• caucus
• session
• seminar
• cabinet
• huddle
• discussion
• summit
• get-together
• clinic
• demonstration
• dialogue
• rally
• negotiation
• conversation
• forum
• discourse
• interview
• audience
• roundtable
• talk
• confab
• palaver
• parley
• round-robin

2

as in organization

a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

the neighborhood council decided to campaign for a new park

Synonyms & Similar Words

• organization
• institute
• association
• society
• institution
• chamber
• fraternity
• board
• brotherhood
• consortium
• group
• league
• guild
• commune
• community
• club
• college
• collective
• team
• chapter
• congress
• fellowship
• cadre
• coalition
• alliance
• order
• partnership
• sodality
• clan
• party
• squad
• circle
• bloc
• camp
• clique
• cooperative
• crew
• body
• branch
• junta
• membership
• coterie
• band
• confederacy
• sorority
• gang
• set
• faithful
• local
• cartel
• fold
• cabal
• syndicate
• outfit
• lot
• ring
• conspiracy
• junto
• sisterhood
• klatch
• combine
• camarilla
• camorra

3

as in symposium

a meeting featuring a group discussion

summoned to a council to discuss ways that the state could improve medical care for the elderly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• symposium
• seminar
• conference
• panel
• forum
• panel discussion
• roundtable
• synod
• caucus
• conclave
• convention
• parley
• colloquy
• congregation
• debate
• round-robin
• colloquium
• town meeting
• assembly
• congress
• convocation
• deliberation
• consistory
• brainstorming
• chat room
• newsgroup

4

as in affiliate

a local unit of an organization

the scout's own council chose to ignore the national organization's discriminatory policies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affiliate
• chapter
• cell
• branch
• local
• wing
• division
• arm
• lodge
• subchapter
• post
• offshoot

5

as in consultation

an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue

an unscheduled council in the judge's chambers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consultation
• discussion
• consult
• debate
• meeting
• conference
• talk
• deliberation
• dialogue
• conversation
• counsel
• argumentation
• argument
• symposium
• consultancy
• parley
• confab
• palaver
• forum
• back-and-forth
• colloquy
• argy-bargy
• seminar
• give-and-take
• roundtable
• confabulation
• chat room
• negotiation
• bull session
• chat
• discourse
• bargaining
• skull session
• rap
• disquisition
• talkathon
• words
• pourparler

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of council

At the July 15 City Council budget meeting, council members voted to move forward with a plan to cut city funding to Valley Regional Transit, the sole provider of public bus service in the Treasure Valley. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026

De Soto residents have been pushing back on the industrial activity coming to their community and have urged council members to put measures in place to protect the city from potential environmental and health impacts. — Taylor O'Connor 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026

Doug Lederman recently made the case in Inside Higher Ed for regional councils that could organize the work postsecondary institutions do for their regions' learners, employers and citizens. — Matt Gandal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

The June 26 court order stemmed from a long-running legal battle over Huntington Beach’s at-large system, in which voters cast ballots picking winners for all open council seats. — Claire Wang, Oc Register, 17 July 2026