council
1 of 2noun
coun·cil ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 
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 2adjective
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
Synonyms
Noun
- assembly
- congress
- convention
- convocation
- gathering
- get-together
- huddle
- meeting
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants. the governor's council on physical fitness
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2022 Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, is the only council member running for a fourth term. Alison Knezevich, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2022 New York City council member Tiffany Cabán’s office is less than 150 feet from Under Pressure Espresso Bar, where men on motorcycles pointed guns at customers outside on Tuesday, according to the New York Post. Max Thornberry, Fox News, 19 Aug. 2022 Donovan was a longtime conservative council member and vocal critic of the Office of Violence Prevention. Mary Spicuzza, Journal Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2022 Other council member suggested improvements to signage at the park. Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2022 Stephanie Bolman — a breast cancer patient, former health care worker and council member for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe — was traveling through the area and decided to visit the No Worries shop. Arielle Zionts, NBC News, 6 Aug. 2022 One aggrieved council member soon likened the masts of the yacht to a giant middle finger, pointed at the city. New York Times, 29 July 2022 One council member, Mackenzie Kelly, was absent from the vote. Kyla Guilfoil, ABC News, 25 July 2022 Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, 6 Sep. 2019 See More
Noun
If the ordinance, which was sponsored by council member Madonna Flood, is passed and approved — potentially as soon as its next meeting on Sept.8 — the area near Waterfront Park could see future expansion. Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2022 Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, is the only council member running for a fourth term. Alison Knezevich, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2022 New York City council member Tiffany Cabán’s office is less than 150 feet from Under Pressure Espresso Bar, where men on motorcycles pointed guns at customers outside on Tuesday, according to the New York Post. Max Thornberry, Fox News, 19 Aug. 2022 Donovan was a longtime conservative council member and vocal critic of the Office of Violence Prevention. Mary Spicuzza, Journal Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2022 Other council member suggested improvements to signage at the park. Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2022 Stephanie Bolman — a breast cancer patient, former health care worker and council member for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe — was traveling through the area and decided to visit the No Worries shop. Arielle Zionts, NBC News, 6 Aug. 2022 One aggrieved council member soon likened the masts of the yacht to a giant middle finger, pointed at the city. New York Times, 29 July 2022 One council member, Mackenzie Kelly, was absent from the vote. Kyla Guilfoil, ABC News, 25 July 2022 Adjective
Barth has previously served as an at-large member of the council and was council vice president from 2013-15. Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, 6 Sep. 2019 See More 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
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing council
Kids Definition
council
noun
coun·cil ˈkau̇n-səl
: a group of people appointed or elected to make laws or give advice
the 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
council
noun
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
Relevance
- meeting
- gathering
- synod
- conclave
- congress
- assembly
- convention
- convocation
- symposium
- conference
- workshop
- caucus
- cabinet
- seminar
- session
- summit
- huddle
- clinic
- discussion
- get-together
- demonstration
- rally
- forum
- dialogue
- negotiation
- roundtable
- discourse
- conversation
- audience
- interview
- parley
- talk
- confab
- dialog
- palaver
- round-robin
2
as in institute
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest the neighborhood council decided to campaign for a new park Synonyms & Similar Words
- institute
- organization
- association
- society
- institution
- chamber
- board
- fraternity
- consortium
- league
- brotherhood
- group
- community
- club
- commune
- guild
- congress
- college
- collective
- team
- chapter
- coalition
- fellowship
- cadre
- alliance
- gild
- partnership
- order
- sodality
- clan
- party
- squad
- bloc
- local
- clique
- camp
- cooperative
- circle
- branch
- body
- crew
- junta
- membership
- coterie
- cabal
- band
- gang
- confederacy
- sorority
- sisterhood
- set
- junto
- faithful
- cartel
- syndicate
- ring
- outfit
- fold
- lot
- conspiracy
- klatch
- combine
- klatsch
- 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
- panel
- conference
- forum
- roundtable
- synod
- panel discussion
- caucus
- parley
- conclave
- congregation
- colloquium
- convention
- congress
- colloquy
- round-robin
- debate
- consistory
- convocation
- town meeting
- assembly
- deliberation
- chat room
- newsgroup
- brainstorming
4
as in chapter
a local unit of an organization the scout's own council chose to ignore the national organization's discriminatory policies Synonyms & Similar Words
- chapter
- affiliate
- local
- cell
- branch
- wing
- division
- arm
- lodge
- post
- offshoot
- subchapter
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
- talk
- deliberation
- conference
- counsel
- dialogue
- conversation
- argument
- consultancy
- argumentation
- parley
- confab
- palaver
- symposium
- roundtable
- forum
- seminar
- argy-bargy
- colloquy
- dialog
- negotiation
- confabulation
- chat room
- bull session
- chat
- discourse
- bargaining
- skull practice
- back-and-forth
- give-and-take
- skull session
- rap
- talkathon
- disquisition
- words
- pourparler
