coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 
1
a
: advice given especially as a result of consultation
He was unwise to reject my counsel.
b
: a policy or plan of action or behavior
2
3
4
a
plural counsel
(1)
: a lawyer engaged in the trial or management of a case in court
(2)
: a lawyer appointed to advise and represent in legal matters an individual client or a corporate and especially a public body
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ
; counsels
; counsels
: advise
… counselled them to avoid rash actions …—
George Orwell
George Orwell
: consult
… I remember Englishmen, like the Colensos, who sat and counseled with us; but above all, I remember Coleridge-Taylor.—W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du BoisSynonyms
Examples of counsel in a Sentence
Noun
We seek counsel from the rich and powerful to learn their secret …
—Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Feb. 2004
God had done a poor job, and Soaphead suspected that he himself could have done better. It was in fact a pity that the Maker had not sought his counsel.
—Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, (1970) 1994
No matter how much time he is given, counsel would always like more, but the Chief Justice will not grant an extra minute unless the lawyer is responding to a question from the bench.
—Robert H. Bork, The Tempting Of America, 1990
Counsel were to be employed. … And when the matter had been decided by the lawyers, Lord Fawn was to express his regret for having suspected his lady-love!
—Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1871
You were unwise to reject my counsel.
The student sought counsel from her teacher.
She is serving as counsel for the defendant.
All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court.
Verb
He balked at authority and, according to Mr. Green, tuned you out if you tried to counsel him.
—David Grann, New Republic, 14 Feb. 2000
She had six children, whom she counseled and with great wisdom and patience.
—Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967
I had counselled Catherine to dine upstairs, but as soon as he perceived her vacant seat he sent me to call her.
—Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847
He counsels people who are trying to quit drinking.
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Feb. 2004
God had done a poor job, and Soaphead suspected that he himself could have done better. It was in fact a pity that the Maker had not sought his counsel.
—Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, (1970) 1994
No matter how much time he is given, counsel would always like more, but the Chief Justice will not grant an extra minute unless the lawyer is responding to a question from the bench.
—Robert H. Bork, The Tempting Of America, 1990
Counsel were to be employed. … And when the matter had been decided by the lawyers, Lord Fawn was to express his regret for having suspected his lady-love!
—Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1871
You were unwise to reject my counsel.
The student sought counsel from her teacher.
She is serving as counsel for the defendant.
All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court.
Verb
He balked at authority and, according to Mr. Green, tuned you out if you tried to counsel him.
—David Grann, New Republic, 14 Feb. 2000
She had six children, whom she counseled and with great wisdom and patience.
—Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967
I had counselled Catherine to dine upstairs, but as soon as he perceived her vacant seat he sent me to call her.
—Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847
He counsels people who are trying to quit drinking.
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Recent Examples on the WebRobert Legare, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
The case: The special counsel’s office has been investigating whether Trump or those close to him violated the law by interfering with the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election or with Congress’s confirmation of the results on Jan. 6, 2021.
—Spencer Hsu, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
But previous filings in the unprecedented case show that a June 2022 grand jury subpoena uncovered video images that prosecutors with the special counsel’s office say revealed damning evidence.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Matt Sharp, senior counsel with the ADF, told the Statesman that his organization believes banks and credit card companies have prevented a free market for consumers who lose an account for ideological or religious reasons.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The script is based on a story by French and Stephen Easley, general counsel to the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.
BMG – which manages the Buddy Holly estate and controls the rights to the Holly music publishing catalog in the U.S. – provided development funding for the project.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The attorneys have claimed the special counsel brought charges after pressure from Republicans.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Forcing landlords to pay slightly more to submit eviction notices, and guaranteeing legal counsel to tenants who receive them, could reduce both the number of filings and the number of removals.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The indictment was filed by the special counsel Jack Smith in Federal District Court in Washington.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Police identified at least two other victims who were being counseled by Wyatt.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
There are plenty of financial advisors willing to counsel wealthy Americans concerning their retirement plans, but underserved markets often lack access to professional advice.
—Steve Parrish, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
In October 1975, as New York City faced a crippling fiscal meltdown, Mr. Millstein counseled city officials not to declare bankruptcy and instead helped draft a formal petition attesting to municipal default.
—Sam Roberts, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Often, trademark lawyers will counsel that the benefits of filing outweigh these concerns.
—Jess Collen, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
For countless emerging artists, many of whom have become marquee names, Satter has been a guide, a sounding board and a goad at the most vulnerable moments in their careers, counseling them not just in how to make their films better, but in how best to get them in front of audiences.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
He has been trained in counseling people in crisis and doing that for years.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
All of that is done in between giving vaccines, ringing up and counseling customers and answering questions about over-the-counter medications.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
In a brief order issued Thursday, Cannon rejected Trump's argument that a 1978 recordkeeping law used to manage official White House records during each presidential administration, the Presidential Records Act (PRA), should prevent the special counsel's case from moving forward.
—Robert Legare, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
The case: The special counsel’s office has been investigating whether Trump or those close to him violated the law by interfering with the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election or with Congress’s confirmation of the results on Jan. 6, 2021.
—Spencer Hsu, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
But previous filings in the unprecedented case show that a June 2022 grand jury subpoena uncovered video images that prosecutors with the special counsel’s office say revealed damning evidence.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Matt Sharp, senior counsel with the ADF, told the Statesman that his organization believes banks and credit card companies have prevented a free market for consumers who lose an account for ideological or religious reasons.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The script is based on a story by French and Stephen Easley, general counsel to the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.
BMG – which manages the Buddy Holly estate and controls the rights to the Holly music publishing catalog in the U.S. – provided development funding for the project.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The attorneys have claimed the special counsel brought charges after pressure from Republicans.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Forcing landlords to pay slightly more to submit eviction notices, and guaranteeing legal counsel to tenants who receive them, could reduce both the number of filings and the number of removals.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The indictment was filed by the special counsel Jack Smith in Federal District Court in Washington.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
This may involve counseling the manager, providing additional training or support, or taking disciplinary action as necessary.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Police identified at least two other victims who were being counseled by Wyatt.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
There are plenty of financial advisors willing to counsel wealthy Americans concerning their retirement plans, but underserved markets often lack access to professional advice.
—Steve Parrish, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
In October 1975, as New York City faced a crippling fiscal meltdown, Mr. Millstein counseled city officials not to declare bankruptcy and instead helped draft a formal petition attesting to municipal default.
—Sam Roberts, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Often, trademark lawyers will counsel that the benefits of filing outweigh these concerns.
—Jess Collen, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
For countless emerging artists, many of whom have become marquee names, Satter has been a guide, a sounding board and a goad at the most vulnerable moments in their careers, counseling them not just in how to make their films better, but in how best to get them in front of audiences.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
He has been trained in counseling people in crisis and doing that for years.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
All of that is done in between giving vaccines, ringing up and counseling customers and answering questions about over-the-counter medications.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counsel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near counsel
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counsel. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl
1
: advice given
2
: the act of deliberating or consulting
took counsel together
3
plural counsel
: a lawyer who represents a person or group in a court of law
counsel
2 of 2 verb
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
-s(ə-)liŋ
1
: to give advice to
counsel a student on a choice of studies
2
: to seek advice : consult
counsel with friends
Medical Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl
: advice given especially as a result of consultation
counsel
2 of 2 transitive verb
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
-s(ə-)liŋ
: to advise especially seriously and formally after consultation
Legal Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n-səl
plural counsel
: lawyer: as
a
: a lawyer participating in the management or trial of a case in court
…to have the assistance of counsel for his defense—U.S. Constitution amend. VI
U.S. Constitution amend. VIa right to counsel
b
: a lawyer appointed or engaged to advise or represent a client in legal matters (as negotiations or the drafting of documents) compare attorney
Note: A judge who has acted as counsel in a matter (as by advising an investigator) is disqualified from hearing the case.
Etymology
Noun
Old French conseil advice, from Latin consilium discussion, advice, council, from consulere to consult
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