council
council — noun
1. people chosen by vote or appointment who come together to offer recommendations,
people chosen by vote or appointment who come together to offer recommendations, set policies, or oversee how an organisation is run — for example a school, business, or professional association
The student council organised a fundraising event for the local library.
student council + organise (common collocation)
Aarav was elected to the town's arts council to advise on cultural projects.
elected to + arts council (advisory role)
Nkechi serves on the research council that reviews grant applications.
A council of doctors and nurses meets monthly to discuss patient safety.
After hours of debate, the council issued a statement supporting the new policy.
- board
more common for corporate or institutional governing bodies (board of directors); council is broader and includes advisory bodies
- committee
usually a subgroup created for a specific purpose and time; council tends to be more permanent and have wider authority
- commission
often implies a body appointed to investigate or regulate a specific area; council is more general
- panel
typically a smaller group convened for a specific discussion or judgment; council suggests a larger, ongoing body
用法筆記
Distinguish from committee: a council typically has broad advisory or governing authority over an organisation, while a committee is usually a smaller subgroup formed for a specific task or area.
常見錯誤
2. the elected body in charge of public services and policy decisions within a spec
the elected body in charge of public services and policy decisions within a specific region such as a town, city, or county — handling schools, roads, rubbish collection, and housing
The city council voted to build a new park near the elementary school.
city council + vote to [action]
Lisa complained to the council about the broken streetlight outside her house.
complain to the council about [problem]
Council elections take place every four years in this county.
Jiwoo works for the local council helping families find affordable housing.
The town council has reduced its spending on road repairs this year.
- municipality
more formal and refers to the administrative area itself rather than the group of people; less common in everyday speech
- local authority
the official term in UK English for the organisation that runs local services; 'council' is the shorter everyday word
- town hall
can refer to the building or be used as a metonym for the local government; less precise than 'council'
用法筆記
In British and Commonwealth English, 'the council' (without a preceding article like 'a' or 'the') often functions as a proper-noun-like reference to the local authority that provides services. In American English, 'city council' or 'town council' is used, but the bare form 'council' typically refers to the internal governing board of an organisation rather than a municipal government.
常見錯誤
council — adjective
1. relating to the gatherings, meetings, or traditions of North American Indigenous
relating to the gatherings, meetings, or traditions of North American Indigenous peoples, where leaders and elders come together to discuss community matters or hold ceremonies
The elders lit the council fire to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
council fire (Indigenous ceremonial context)
Council meetings in the Navajo Nation follow traditions that go back centuries.
council meeting (Indigenous governance)
Henry was invited to speak at a council gathering of the Haudenosaunee people.
Smoke rose from the council lodge where leaders had gathered since dawn.
- tribal
broader than 'council'; refers to the entire tribe or nation, not specifically to the council as an institution
- ceremonial
focuses on the ritual aspect; council gatherings are often ceremonial but also serve governance functions
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in descriptions of North American Indigenous governance and ceremonial traditions. Common noun phrases include council fire, council house (a traditional meeting building), council lodge, and council gathering. Do not confuse with the UK sense of 'council house' meaning government-provided housing.
常見錯誤
2. built, owned, or run by the local government of a town or city, especially used
built, owned, or run by the local government of a town or city, especially used to describe housing that is rented to people at below-market rates
Her family moved into a council flat after their house was damaged in the storm.
council flat (government-provided housing)
The council estate was built in the 1960s and renovated last year.
Council housing provides affordable homes for people on low incomes.
The council properties in this area are known for their large gardens.
Mert grew up in a council house on the outskirts of Manchester.
- public
used in American English (public housing); broader than 'council' as it covers federal and state programmes
- subsidised
focuses on the financial aspect (below-market rent); 'council' emphasises that the local authority owns the property
- social
used in British English in phrases like 'social housing'; slightly broader than 'council' as it includes housing associations
- private
privately owned or rented housing, as opposed to council-owned
用法筆記
This sense is common in British and Commonwealth English but rare in American English, where 'public housing' or 'government housing' is used instead. The most frequent noun phrases are council house, council flat, council estate, and council housing. 'Council tax' is a related but distinct term — it is a tax paid to the local council, not a type of housing.