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 council also exempted from SB 79 areas that are close to a transit stop but violate the spirit of SB 79 because residents can’t walk to it easily because of barriers like canyons, freeways or a lack of sidewalks. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026

Craft expects council Vice President Red Stone, a Republican representing District 1, to have a Democratic challenger, although no one was on the ballot Tuesday. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

Adjective

Wise, Watkins’s challenger, was the only candidate who made a point to distinguish herself from being pro-council or pro-mayor. —Rachel Royster may 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2026

During his post-council news conference, Johnson again praised Lawson’s interim leadership of the committee but stopped short of publicly calling for aldermen to support him. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

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