coun·cil (koun s l)n.1. a. An assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion. b. A body of people elected or appointed to serve as administrators, legislators, or advisors. c. An assembly of church officials and theologians convened for regulating matters of doctrine and discipline. 2. The discussion or deliberation that takes place in such an assembly or body.
[Middle English counceil, from Old French concile, from Latin concilium; see kel-2 in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: Council, counsel, and consul are never interchangeable, though their meanings are related. Council and councilor refer principally to a deliberative assembly (such as a city council or student council), its work, and its membership. Counsel and counselor pertain chiefly to advice and guidance in general and to a person (such as a lawyer or camp counselor) who provides it. Consul denotes an officer in the foreign service of a country. |
council Noun 1. a group meeting for discussion or consultation 2. a legislative or advisory body: the United Nations Security Council 3. Brit the local governing authority of a town or county 4. Austral the local governing authority of a district or shire Adjective of or provided by a local council: a council house [Latin concilium assembly] USAGE: Avoid confusion with counsel.
Council an assembly elected or appointed to administer a county, district, or city; the governing body of various professions, institutions, societies, etc.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  council - a body serving in an administrative capacity; "student council"Sanhedrin - the supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem Security Council, SC - a permanent council of the United Nations; responsible for preserving world peace Trusteeship Council, TC - a permanent council of the United Nations that commissions a country (or countries) to undertake the administration of a territory NAC, North Atlantic Council - a council consisting of permanent representatives of all the member countries of NATO; has political authority and powers of decision city council - a municipal body that can pass ordinances and appropriate funds etc. privy council - an advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British Crown) works council - (chiefly Brit) a council representing employer and employees of a plant or business to discuss working conditions etc; also: a committee representing the workers elected to negotiate with management about grievances and wages etc soviet - an elected governmental council in a communist country (especially one that is a member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) world council - a council with representatives from different nations | | 2. | council - (Christianity) an assembly of theologians and bishops and other representatives of different churches or dioceses that is convened to regulate matters of discipline or doctrineChristian religion, Christianity - a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior assembly - a group of persons who are gathered together for a common purpose ecumenical council - (early Christian church) one of seven gatherings of bishops from around the known world under the presidency of the Pope to regulate matters of faith and morals and discipline; "the first seven councils through 787 are considered to be ecumenical councils by both the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church but the next fourteen councils are considered ecumenical only by the Roman Catholic church" Fourth Council of Constantinople, Constantinople - the council in 869 that condemned Photius who had become the patriarch of Constantinople without approval from the Vatican, thereby precipitating the schism between the eastern and western churches Lateran Council - any of five general councils of the Western Catholic Church that were held in the Lateran Palace First Council of Lyons, Lyons - the council of the Western Church in 1245 that excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and planned a new crusade against the Holy Land Council of Vienne, Vienne - the council in 1311-1313 that dealt with alleged crimes of the Knights Templar, planned a new crusade, and took on the reformation of the clergy Council of Trent - a council of the Roman Catholic Church convened in Trento in three sessions between 1545 and 1563 to examine and condemn the teachings of Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers; redefined the Roman Catholic doctrine and abolished various ecclesiastical abuses and strengthened the papacy | | 3. | council - a meeting of people for consultation; "emergency council"group meeting, meeting - a formally arranged gathering; "next year the meeting will be in Chicago"; "the meeting elected a chairperson" indaba - a council at which indigenous peoples of southern Africa meet to discuss some important question Jirga - a Pashto term for a decision making assembly of male elders; "most criminal cases are handled by a tribal Jirga rather than by laws or police" powwow - a council of or with Native Americans synod - a council convened to discuss ecclesiastical business |
council noun 2. governing body, house, parliament, congress, cabinet, ministry, diet, panel, assembly, chamber, convention, synod, conclave, convocation, conference, runanga N.Z.  Translations
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