(Christianity) an assembly of theologians and bishops and other representatives of different churches or dioceses that is convened to regulate matters of discipline or doctrine
"After months of heated debate, the ecumenical council finally issued a joint statement on how all member denominations should handle issues of theological discipline."
A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council).
"The new park proposal was rejected by the city council last night."
In plain English: A council is a group of people who work together to make decisions and run a community.
"The city council voted to build a new park in the neighborhood."
Usage: Use "council" to refer to a formal group of people established to make decisions or govern an organization, such as a city council or student council. Do not use it interchangeably with "counsel," which refers to advice or legal representation.
A surname.
"The Council family has owned the bakery on Main Street for three generations."
The word council entered English through the path of Old Norse and French, originally meaning an assembly or gathering for discussion. It is a doublet of conchello, sharing the same Latin root concilium but arriving via different linguistic routes.