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 ordinance must move through hearings, survive a hard budget season and win a majority of a council where skeptics remain — all with elections looming. — Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Highlighting the city's rapid development, Holland urged the council during the July 14 meeting to plan for future staffing needs across the police, fire, water and sewer, streets, and parks departments to keep pace with community growth. — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 July 2026

Chuan first ran for a seat on the council in 2024, coming in a close third behind Evelyn Chua and William Lam in a field of six candidates. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 26 July 2026

At a meeting earlier this month, the council voted 4-0 to extend the ban for another 10 months, to give more time to city staff to study the impacts and recommend language for an ordinance potentially banning new drive-throughs permanently. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026