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council

Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊns(ə)l, -sɪl/

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Definition of council

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
  • [as modifier] British denoting housing provided by a local council at a subsidized rent:a council flat
  • 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).

council in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of council in the US English dictionary

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