council
Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊns(ə)l, -sɪl/
noun
- an advisory, deliberative, or administrative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly: an official human rights council
- a body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other municipal district: a ban on school buses using the road was imposed by the county council
-
- an ecclesiastical assembly.
- a meeting for consultation or advice: that evening, she held a family council
Origin:
Old English (in the sense 'ecclesiastical assembly'): from Anglo-Norman French cuncile, from Latin concilium 'convocation, assembly', from con- 'together' + calare 'summon'. Compare with counsel
Do not confuse council with counsel. Council means 'a group of people who manage an area or advise on something' ( the city council), whereas counsel means 'advice' or 'advise' ( we counselled him on estate planning).