counsel

noun

coun·sel | \ ˈkau̇n(t)-səl

Definition of counsel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 : deliberation, consultation

3a archaic : purpose

b : guarded thoughts or intentions He was chary and given to keeping his own counsel.

4a 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

b : consultant sense 2

counsel

verb

coun·sel | \ ˈkau̇n(t)-səl

counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling\ ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ

Definition of counsel (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: advise … counselled them to avoid rash actions …— George Orwell

intransitive verb

: consult counseled with her husband

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about counsel

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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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Lightning rod issue Other state gun laws are largely silent on the role federal firearms licensees have in conducting background checks, according to Adam Skaggs, chief counsel at the Giffords Law Center. — Sarah Min, CBS News, "Walmart will stop selling guns in New Mexico," 9 July 2019 Margot Saunders, senior counsel at the National Consumer Law Center, has two suggestions. — Patrick Lucas Austin, Time, "This New App Promises to Block Robocalls Forever. But Should We Have to Pay for That?," 27 June 2019 The White House counsel responded with a letter asking that the agency withdraw the recommendation, and the OSC declined the request. — Tiffany Diane Tso, refinery29.com, "Ivanka Trump Is In Hot Water Over Her MAGA Tweet," 20 June 2019 When a trial court unreasonably or arbitrarily interferes with the defendant’s right to choose counsel, its actions rise to the level of a constitutional violation. — Brian Chasnoff, ExpressNews.com, "Judge denies DA’s move to boot LaHood from case," 20 June 2019 San Diego County Fire Authority employees on Sunday, at the direction of the county counsel, broke into the station and changed the locks on Station 56. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Missing fire truck found as county takes control of Julian fire station," 5 June 2019 On May 29, anticipation was intense as word spread that the special counsel would make his first in-person public statement in the two years since his appointment. — Linda Greenhouse, The New York Review of Books, "The Impeachment Question," 30 May 2019 Meanwhile, the state fired Hall in early 2019 from his unpaid position as independent counsel on the grounds that the attorney general’s office can represent Michigan on both sides of the water crisis investigation. — Dustin Renwick, National Geographic, "Five years on, the Flint water crisis is nowhere near over," 25 Apr. 2019 Kupec confirmed that the office of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who intends to leave the department in the coming weeks, continues to be the primary liaison between the special counsel and Barr. — Chris Strohm, Bloomberg.com, "Trump's New Attorney General Won't Recuse Himself in Mueller Probe," 4 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

As a therapeutic practice, couples counseling emerged in the 1930s to complement sterilization campaigns, which were drawing criticism for relying on shoddy science. — Audrey Farley, Longreads, "We Still Don’t Know How to Navigate the Cultural Legacy of Eugenics," 20 June 2019 The NaphCare team works with Talbert House, an organization that counsels women in the recovery pod, to connect inmates to medication services after their release. — Terry Demio, Cincinnati.com, "'I will die' without it: Hamilton County Jail offers addicted inmates meds behind bars," 19 June 2019 Some experts, as well as the government of neighboring South Korea, have counseled against raising human rights or any other issue not directly related to the nuclear arms that threaten South Korea’s very existence. — Tracy Wilkinson, latimes.com, "Trump may not bring it up, but Kim's human rights record is among the world's worst," 12 June 2018 Rabbi Mendy Fellig, who runs Chabad at the University of Miami, called it an unusual event at a school where he's counseled students and staff for decades. — Charles Rabin, miamiherald, "Swastikas drawings found outside dorm rooms of two female UM students | Miami Herald," 16 Apr. 2018 His third season at the coaching helm of St. John’s, where he was counseled by the raspy-voiced musings of Lou Carnesecca in the 1980s, began with the expectant fruition of a program rebuild, with N.C.A.A. tournament ambition. — Harvey Araton, New York Times, "Chris Mullin Preaches the Power of One Day at a Time," 6 Mar. 2018 The role of the deputy chief state’s attorney for operations, outlined in a state job posting, is to advise and counsel other attorneys on investigative and prosecutive matters. — Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, "Five Vie For Deputy Chief State's Attorney Job," 12 July 2018 The employee's supervisor said there had been past problems with the employee issuing licenses to felons and counselling occurred beginning in 2008, but no formal disciplinary action was taken. — Brendan Farrington, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Florida concealed weapons permits: 2012 probe found more state agency errors," 3 July 2018 Whitaker also counseled Trump on how to pressure the Justice Department into naming a special counsel to investigate Hillary Clinton. — Rachel Withers, Vox, "Trump really wants you to think he doesn’t know Whitaker," 10 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'counsel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near counsel

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Last Updated

13 Jul 2019

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The first known use of counsel was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for counsel

counsel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of counsel

(Entry 1 of 2)

formal : advice given to someone

law : a lawyer who represents a person or group in a court of law

counsel

verb

English Language Learners Definition of counsel (Entry 2 of 2)

formal

: to give advice to (someone)

: to listen to and give support or advice to (someone) especially as a job

: to suggest or recommend (something)

See the full definition for counsel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

counsel

noun

coun·sel | \ ˈkau̇n-səl

Kids Definition of counsel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : advice given My grandfather's counsel was to be patient.

2 plural counsel : a lawyer representing someone in court

counsel

verb

counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling

Kids Definition of counsel (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to give advice to : advise She counseled him to study harder.

2 : to suggest or recommend The doctor counseled rest.

counsel

noun

coun·sel | \ ˈkau̇n(t)-səl

Medical Definition of counsel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: advice given especially as a result of consultation

counsel

transitive verb

counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling\ -s(ə-)liŋ

Medical Definition of counsel (Entry 2 of 2)

: to advise especially seriously and formally after consultation

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counsel

noun

coun·sel | \ ˈkau̇n-səl

plural counsel

Legal Definition of counsel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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 a 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.

of counsel

1 : assisting another lawyer in a case was attorney of counsel

2 : employed on a part-time basis a tax attorney will move also and become of counsel — National Law Journal