council

1 of 2

noun

coun·​cil ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 

plural councils

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

council

2 of 2

adjective

1

: used for councils especially by or with North American Indigenous people

a council ground

2

British : built, maintained, or operated by a local governing agency

council housing

council flats

Synonyms of council

Noun

• meeting
• gathering

Examples of council in a Sentence

Noun

The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants.

the governor's council on physical fitness

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The vote was not on the council's agenda, and Miller quietly packed her bags and left afterwards. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

One of them, which adds two new zoning districts to Nashville’s list of existing options, was approved 28-10, with council members Joy Kimbrough, Jennifer Webb, Jeff Eslick, Sheri Weiner, Thom Druffel, Jeff Preptit, Courtney Johnston, David Benton, Tasha Ellis and Joy Styles opposed. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025

Adjective

In the pre-council meeting, council members spoke with a representative from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. —Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2025

Many non-council meetings, like school boards, aren’t livestreamed at all. —Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English counceil, from Anglo-French cunseil, cuncile, from Latin concilium, from com- + calare to call — more at low entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing council

• city council
• council of ministers
• executive council
• legislative council
• privy council
• student council

Rhymes for council

• counsel

Kids Definition

council

noun

coun·​cil

ˈkau̇n(t)-səl

1

: a meeting for consultation

2

: an advisory or legislative body

the governor's council

3

: an administrative body

city council

Legal Definition

council

noun

coun·​cil ˈkau̇n-səl 

: 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 sense 2b