council

noun coun·cil \ ˈkau̇n(t)-səl \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of council

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

the Second Vatican Council

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

a governor's council

a city council

3 a : a usually administrative body

a council on housing

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

the National Council of Teachers of English

b : a local chapter of an organization

c : club, society

See council defined for English-language learners

See council defined for kids

Examples of council in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of council from the Web

Bill 18-004, which comes from County Executive Barry Glassman’s administration, was introduced to the council March 13.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford County seeks revisions to bill calling for event permit suspensions for drug arrests," 13 Apr. 2018
The recommendation was forwarded by the human resources director to the finance and human resources committee and then to the council.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Greenfield aldermen deny it was a 'Sweetheart deal,' but judge declines health insurance on his own anyway," 5 Apr. 2018
Auburn Mayor Bill Ham also suggested to the council creating a design review committee to work with the city's planning department, planning commission and developers on future large projects.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Fuzzy's Taco Shop returns to Tuscaloosa," 4 Apr. 2018
Oakland resident Katherine Wright, who has complained to the town council that the town's peacocks are a nuisance that cause damage and leave smelly bird waste in her yard, talks about the situation, Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Oakland hires trapper to nab 'gorgeous' but 'nasty' peacocks after complaints," 3 Apr. 2018
During that time period, Guidry said, the message resulted in police reducing simple marijuana possession arrests by about 5,000 compared to the four years prior to the council taking office.

— kevin litten, NOLA.com, "NOPD marijuana arrests plunged to 1 percent after ordinance change," 28 Mar. 2018
But Bendekovic, who was first elected to the council in 2001, also has been a polarizing figure in Plantation politics since becoming mayor in 2011.

— lisa j. huriash, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Veltri dynasty ending in Plantation as mayor decides to retire," 20 Mar. 2018
Welker also has been appointed to the conservation council.

— CBS News, "Wildlife protection board packed with trophy hunters, report says," 16 Mar. 2018
In the process of developing the bill, the girls did research on secondhand smoke and presented it to the council.

— allison klein, Anchorage Daily News, "A Colorado city just passed an antismoking law. It’s the brainchild of a Girl Scout troop.," 10 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of council

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

See Words from the same year

council Synonyms

Synonyms

association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, fellowship, fraternity, guild (also gild), institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality;

alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership;

body, cadre, group;

circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, lot, set;

crew, outfit, party, squad, team;

branch, chapter, local;

faithful, fold, membership;

sisterhood, sorority;

cabal, confederacy, conspiracy;

band, gang, ring;

cartel, combine, syndicate;

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

council

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

See council defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of council

see ¹council

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

COUNCIL Defined for English Language Learners

council

noun

Definition of council for English Language Learners

: a group of people who are chosen to make rules, laws, or decisions about something
: a group of people who provide advice or guidance on something

council

adjective

Definition of council for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a council
: provided by a local government council for people to live in for low rent

COUNCIL Defined for Kids

council

noun coun·cil \ ˈkau̇n-səl \

Definition of council for Students

: a group of people appointed or elected to make laws or give advice

the city council

Law Dictionary

council

noun coun·cil \ ˈkau̇n-səl \

legal Definition of council

: a governmental body: as

a : a group elected as a legislative body

city council

b : an administrative body

council on aging

c : an executive body whose members are equal in power and authority — compare committee 2b

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See words that rhyme with council Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for council Spanish Central: Translation of council Nglish: Translation of council for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of council for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about council

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council

Definition of council

Examples of council in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of council

council Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

council

Definition of council

Origin and Etymology of council

Phrases Related to COUNCIL

Related Phrases

COUNCIL Defined for English Language Learners

council

Definition of council for English Language Learners

council

Definition of council for English Language Learners

COUNCIL Defined for Kids

council

Definition of council for Students

Law Dictionary

council

legal Definition of council

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