council

1 of 2

noun

coun·​cil ˈkau̇n(t)-səl How to pronounce council (audio)
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

council

2 of 2

adjective

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

Examples of council in a Sentence

Noun The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants. the governor's council on physical fitness
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The city council will determine what is built on that land and how much will be used for affordable housing. Zachery Eanes, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024 In 2019, the San Antonio district council approved a new concession agreement for the city’s airport that brought in more local establishments and specifically barred the chicken-sandwich chain. Chris Morris, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Many non-council meetings, like school boards, aren’t livestreamed at all. Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2023 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 all Example Sentences for council 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'council.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of council was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near council

Cite this Entry

“Council.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/council. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

council

noun
coun·​cil
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl
1
: a meeting for consultation
2
: an advisory or legislative body
the governor's council
3
: an administrative body
city council

Legal Definition

council

noun
coun·​cil ˈkau̇n-səl How to pronounce council (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on council

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!