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 Bois
coun·sel·ing
ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ
variants
or counselling
: professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes
career counseling for high schoolers
counseling for drug addicts
Examples of counsel in a Sentence
Noun (1)
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
Noun (2)
She is receiving counseling to cope with the death of her husband.
The college offers career counseling.
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
Noun (2)
She is receiving counseling to cope with the death of her husband.
The college offers career counseling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Class counsel Kenneth McClain, Jonathan Soper and Nichelle Oxley were not immediately available Friday for comment.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Robert Frank, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Patients with a history of pancreatitis, for example, should be counseled about potential complications, medical studies show.
—Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
In addition to the first responders, Kehoe said that representatives from the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Behavioral Strike Team responded to provide grief counseling to family members of the victims.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Her lawyers now argue trial counsel should have dug deeper and sought expert testimony to explain whether POTS could account for Shirilla’s failure to brake before impact.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Class counsel Kenneth McClain, Jonathan Soper and Nichelle Oxley were not immediately available Friday for comment.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Verb
With such heavy concentration in what will likely be a volatile stock, advisors typically counsel clients to diversify.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Patients with a history of pancreatitis, for example, should be counseled about potential complications, medical studies show.
—Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Noun
Credit counseling is another option available to you.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
In addition to the first responders, Kehoe said that representatives from the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Behavioral Strike Team responded to provide grief counseling to family members of the victims.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counsel. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
