A council is a group of people who are elected to govern a local area such as a city or, in Britain, a county.
...Cheshire County Council.
The city council has voted almost unanimously in favour.
...David Ward, one of just two Liberal Democrats on the council.
...reports of local council meetings.
Synonyms: committee, governing body, board, panel More Synonyms of council
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Council houses or flats are owned by the local council, and people pay rent to live in them.
[British]
There is a shortage of council housing.
Council tenants around the country are planning a mass lobby of Parliament.
3. countable noun [with singular or plural verb, usu in names]
Council is used in the names of some organizations.
...the National Council for Civil Liberties.
...the Arts Council.
...community health councils.
4. countable noun [with singular or plural verb, usually singular]
In some organizations, the council is the group of people that controls or governs it.
He was a member of the council of the Royal Northern College of Music. [+ of]
...the Bundesbank's central council.
Synonyms: governing body, house, parliament, congress More Synonyms of council
5. countable noun
A council is a specially organized, formal meeting that is attended by a particular group of people.
The President said he would call a grand council of all Afghans. [+ of]
The president meets ministers at inter-ministerial councils.
council in British English
(ˈkaʊnsəl)
noun
1.
an assembly of people meeting for discussion, consultation, etc
an emergency council
2.
a body of people elected or appointed to serve in an administrative, legislative, or advisory capacity
a student council
3. the council
4.
a meeting or the deliberation of a council
5. (modifier)
of, relating to, provided for, or used by a local council
a council chamber
council offices
6. (modifier) British
provided by a local council, esp (of housing) at a subsidized rent
a council house
a council estate
7. Australian
an administrative or legislative assembly, esp the upper house of a state parliament in Australia
8. Christianity
an assembly of bishops, theologians, and other representatives of several churches or dioceses, convened for regulating matters of doctrine or discipline
▶ USAGE Avoid confusion with counsel
Word origin
C12: from Old French concile, from Latin concilium assembly, from com- together + calāre to call; influenced also by Latin consilium advice, counsel
council in American English
(ˈkaʊnsəl)
noun
1.
a group of people called together for consultation, discussion, advice, etc.
2.
a group of people chosen as an administrative, advisory, or legislative assembly
3.
a.
the legislative body of a city or other municipality
b. British
the administrative body of a county, town, city, district, etc.
4.
an assembly of church officials to discuss points of doctrine, etc.
5.
a.
a body of delegates from local units of a union, confederation, etc.
b.
an organization or society, or one of its levels of governing bodies
6.
the discussion or deliberation in a council
adjective
7. British
designating or of dwelling units built or provided by a local council (sense 3) council (sense 3b)
council houses
Word origin
ME counceil < OFr concile < L concilium, group of people, meeting < com-, together + calere, to call (see clamor); confused in form and meaning in ME with counsel
Examples of 'council' in a sentence
council
Not surprisingly, Adrina's first appearance at the war council caused a stir, even more than Tristan's inclusion.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
It's all I can do to squeeze enough out of the council to run the scout cars.
Wood, Ted FOOLS GOLD (2001)
He wasn't particularly surprised at the idea of corruption on the local council.
Stuart Harrison LOST SUMMER (2001)
That night the people held a council to decide what they should do.
J.A. Jance KISS OF THE BEES (2001)
In other languages
council
British English: council /ˈkaʊnsəl/ NOUN
A council is a group of people elected to govern a town or other area.
The city council has decided to build a new school.
American English: council
Arabic: مَجْلِس
Brazilian Portuguese: conselho grupo de pessoas
Chinese: 政务会
Croatian: vijeće
Czech: rada úřad
Danish: råd forsamling
Dutch: raad
European Spanish: ayuntamiento municipio
Finnish: neuvosto
French: conseil réunion
German: Sitzung
Greek: συμβούλιο
Italian: consiglio
Japanese: 審議会
Korean: 회의 회의
Norwegian: råd
Polish: rada posiedzenie
European Portuguese: conselho grupo de pessoas
Romanian: consiliuclădire
Russian: совет собрание
Latin American Spanish: concejo
Swedish: kommunfullmäktige
Thai: สภาท้องถิ่น
Turkish: meclis belediye vb
Ukrainian: рада
Vietnamese: hội đồng
All related terms of 'council'
council tax
In Britain, council tax is a tax that you pay to your local authority in order to pay for local services such as schools , libraries , and rubbish collection . The amount of council tax that you pay depends on the value of the house or flat where you live .
the council
the local governing authority of a town, county , etc
Arts Council
an organization that provides funding for a variety of arts activities
Aulic Council
a council , founded in 1498, of the Holy Roman Emperor . It functioned mainly as a judicial body
city council
a municipal body having legislative and administrative powers, such as passing ordinances and appropriating funds
council area
any of the 32 unitary authorities into which Scotland has been divided for administrative purposes since April 1996
council chief
The chief of an organization is the person who is in charge of it.
council flat
a flat built or owned by a local council
council home
Someone's home is the house or flat where they live .
council house
In Britain , a council house is a house that is owned by a local council and that people can rent at a low cost .
great council
(in medieval England) an assembly of the great nobles and prelates to advise the king
Loan Council
(in Australia) a statutory body that controls borrowing by the states
local council
the governing body of a county , district , etc
privy council
In Britain, the Privy Council is a group of people who are appointed to advise the king or queen on political affairs .
town council
A town council is a group of people who have been elected to govern a British town.
wages council
(formerly, in Britain ) a statutory body empowered to fix minimum wages in an industry ; abolished in 1994
works council
a council composed of both employer and employees convened to discuss matters of common interest concerning a factory , plant, business policy , etc, not covered by regular trade union agreements
borough council
a local government body elected by a borough
British Council
an organization founded (1934) to extend the influence of British culture and education throughout the world
church council
a body of lay delegates chosen from the congregation and charged with supporting the pastor in religious instruction , contributions to the church, etc
Council Bluffs
a city in SW Iowa , across the Missouri River from Omaha, Neb. 56,449
council chamber
the room in which council meetings are held
council estate
a housing development built by a local council
council housing
houses or flats built or owned by a local council
council leader
The leader of a group of people or an organization is the person who is in control of it or in charge of it.
council meeting
A meeting is an event in which a group of people come together to discuss things or make decisions .
council school
(esp formerly) any school maintained by the state
council tenant
a tenant who rents a council house or council flat
county council
A county council is an organization which runs local government in a county in Britain .
islands council
(in Scotland since 1975) any of the three divisions (Orkney, Shetland , and the Western Isles ) into which the Scottish islands are divided for purposes of local government
Nicene Council
the first council of Nicaea , the first general council of the Church , held in 325 ad to settle the Arian controversy
parish council
(in England and, formerly, Wales ) the administrative body of a parish
school council
a group of pupils who are elected by fellow pupils to represent their school and think of ideas for improving it
student council
a council or body representing the interests of students at a school , university or college , made up of students and usually elected by students
Trades Council
(in Britain ) an association of the different trade unions in one town or area
Vatican Council
→ the Vatican Council
Whitley Council
any of a number of organizations made up of representatives of employees and employers for joint consultation on and settlement of industrial relations and conditions for a particular industry or service
community council
(in Scotland and Wales ) an independent voluntary local body set up to attend to local interests and organize community activities
council of war
A council of war is a meeting that is held in order to decide how a particular threat or emergency should be dealt with.
curriculum council
a council appointed to oversee the development and implementation of a curriculum
district council
the elected council representing an administrative district in the UK
ecumenical council
an assembly of bishops and other ecclesiastics representative of the Christian Church throughout the world. Roman Catholic canon law states that an ecumenical council must be convened by the pope
European Council
an executive body of the European Union, made up of the President of the European Commission and representatives of the member states , including the foreign and other ministers. The Council acts at the request of the Commission
Executive Council
(in Australia and New Zealand) a body consisting of ministers of the Crown presided over by the Governor or Governor-General that formally approves Cabinet decisions , etc
Hebdomadal Council
the governing council or senate of Oxford University
Provincial Council
(formerly) a council administering any of the New Zealand provinces
regional council
the governing body in certain countries of a particular region or administrative division
Security Council
The Security Council is the committee which governs the United Nations. It has permanent representatives from the United States , Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom , and temporary representatives from some other countries .
Council of Europe
an association of European states , established in 1949 to promote unity between its members, defend human rights, and increase social and economic progress
Council of States
the upper chamber of India's Parliament
Chinese translation of 'council'
council
(ˈkaunsl)
n(c)
[of city, county]议(議)会(會) (yìhuì) (个(個), gè)
(in names) 理事会(會) (lǐshìhuì)
⇒ the Arts Council艺术理事会 (yìshù lǐshìhuì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a group meeting for discussion or consultation
The city council has voted almost unanimously in favour of the proposal.
Synonyms
committee
My report was circulated to all committee members.
governing body
board
the US National Transportation Safety Board
panel
The panel of judges were unanimous in their decision.
quango
jamaat
2 (noun)
Definition
a legislative or advisory body
The powers of the King had been handed over temporarily to a council of ministers.
Synonyms
governing body
house
the joint sessions of the two parliamentary houses
parliament
The Bangladesh parliament has approved the policy.
congress
A lot has changed since the party congress.
cabinet
The radically-changed Cabinet of the Prime Minister includes eight new ministers.
ministry
He disclosed that his ministry gave funds to parties in Namibia.
diet
The Diet has time to discuss the bill only until the 10th November.
panel
assembly
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
chamber
the main political chamber of the Slovenian parliament
convention
I flew to Boston to attend the annual convention of the Parapsychological Association.
synod
conclave
In the US, Nato defence ministers have just ended a lengthy conclave.
convocation (formal)
a convocation of bishops
conference
The president summoned the state governors to a conference on education.
runanga (New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assembly
Definition
a number of people gathered together for a meeting
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
Synonyms
gathering,
group,
meeting,
body,
council,
conference,
crowd,
congress,
audience,
collection,
mass,
diet,
rally,
convention,
flock,
company,
house,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
synod,
hui (New Zealand),
assemblage,
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
jamaat,
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of board
Definition
any other official group, such as examiners or interviewers
the US National Transportation Safety Board
Synonyms
council,
directors,
committee,
congress,
ministry,
advisers,
panel,
assembly,
chamber,
trustees,
governing body,
synod,
directorate,
quango,
advisory group,
conclave
in the sense of cabinet
The radically-changed Cabinet of the Prime Minister includes eight new ministers.