Synonyms of council

council

noun

ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 

1

as in meeting

a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose

a war council attended by the top commanders of each of the armed services

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meeting
• gathering
• conclave
• convention
• assembly
• synod
• congress
• convocation
• symposium
• workshop
• conference
• caucus
• session
• seminar
• cabinet
• huddle
• discussion
• summit
• get-together
• clinic
• demonstration
• dialogue
• rally
• negotiation
• conversation
• forum
• discourse
• interview
• audience
• roundtable
• talk
• confab
• palaver
• parley
• round-robin

2

as in organization

a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

the neighborhood council decided to campaign for a new park

Synonyms & Similar Words

• organization
• institute
• association
• society
• institution
• chamber
• fraternity
• board
• brotherhood
• consortium
• group
• league
• guild
• commune
• community
• club
• college
• collective
• team
• chapter
• congress
• fellowship
• cadre
• coalition
• alliance
• order
• partnership
• sodality
• clan
• party
• squad
• circle
• bloc
• camp
• clique
• cooperative
• crew
• body
• branch
• junta
• membership
• coterie
• band
• confederacy
• sorority
• gang
• set
• faithful
• local
• cartel
• fold
• cabal
• syndicate
• outfit
• lot
• ring
• conspiracy
• junto
• sisterhood
• klatch
• combine
• camarilla
• camorra

3

as in symposium

a meeting featuring a group discussion

summoned to a council to discuss ways that the state could improve medical care for the elderly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• symposium
• seminar
• conference
• panel
• forum
• panel discussion
• roundtable
• synod
• caucus
• conclave
• convention
• parley
• colloquy
• congregation
• debate
• round-robin
• colloquium
• town meeting
• assembly
• congress
• convocation
• deliberation
• consistory
• brainstorming
• chat room
• newsgroup

4

as in affiliate

a local unit of an organization

the scout's own council chose to ignore the national organization's discriminatory policies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affiliate
• chapter
• cell
• branch
• local
• wing
• division
• arm
• lodge
• subchapter
• post
• offshoot

5

as in consultation

an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue

an unscheduled council in the judge's chambers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consultation
• discussion
• consult
• debate
• meeting
• conference
• talk
• deliberation
• dialogue
• conversation
• counsel
• argumentation
• argument
• symposium
• consultancy
• parley
• confab
• palaver
• forum
• back-and-forth
• colloquy
• argy-bargy
• seminar
• give-and-take
• roundtable
• confabulation
• chat room
• negotiation
• bull session
• chat
• discourse
• bargaining
• skull session
• rap
• disquisition
• talkathon
• words
• pourparler

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of council

The spokesperson didn’t respond to questions about the council’s membership or the timing of its formation. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

If a room’s maximum capacity is exceeded, the council would be required to take extraordinary measures to allow everyone a chance to speak. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

However, District 5 council member Deborah Peoples elected to remove the item from the consent agenda so it could be voted on as a stand-alone measure. — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026

The council’s president, John Kavulich, links the decline to a decrease in sales to the Cuban government. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026