How do you use council and counsel in a sentence?

Asked by: Ms. Maureen Roberts III  |  Last update: January 4, 2026
Score: 5/5 (55 votes)

A council is a meeting for discussion or advice, but to counsel is a verb meaning to give advice. They sound exactly the same, but the language council met and decided to counsel you on how to keep them straight.

When to use counsel or council?

Counsel and council are pronounced the same, but they have different (though related) meanings.
  1. Counsel is a verb meaning “advise” and a noun meaning “advice” or “instruction.” It can also be used as a noun to refer to a lawyer.
  2. Council is a noun referring to an advisory or legislative body of people.

How can I use council in a sentence?

How to Use council in a Sentence
  1. The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants.
  2. More than 50 people spoke to the council ahead of the votes. ...
  3. That's the true, the ultimate hypocrisy of this council. ...
  4. The police union has blamed the city council's actions for the rise in crime.

How do you put counsel in a sentence?

He had always been able to count on her wise counsel. His parishioners sought his counsel and loved him. My advisers counselled me to do nothing. The prime minister was right to counsel caution about military intervention.

Is it student council or counsel?

Council is the word for an advisory group or meeting; counsel is the word for advice, an individual giving advice or guidance, or the verb indicating such action. There is not a tried-and-true mnemonic to differentiate these words.

Council vs. Counsel | Difference b/w Confusing words "Council" & "Counsel" with meaning & examples

23 related questions found

What is an example sentence for council and counsel?

council/ counsel

A council is a meeting for discussion or advice, but to counsel is a verb meaning to give advice. They sound exactly the same, but the language council met and decided to counsel you on how to keep them straight.

What is student council in Canada?

Student Councils play a vital role in providing a student voice within our schools. Students are able to share their ideas on issues within our schools as well as provide leadership to initiatives that help make our schools safer, education focused and fun.

How to use the word "counsel"?

  1. You were unwise to reject my counsel.
  2. The student sought counsel from her teacher.
  3. She is serving as counsel for the defendant.
  4. All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court.
  5. He counsels people who are trying to quit drinking.

What is the own sentence of counsel?

All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court. The student sought counsel from her teacher. You were unwise to reject my counsel.

What is an example of counsel?

Counsel is another word for advice. Example: He assisted me with good counsel and encouragement. Example: Seek counsel from those who are wiser than you.

What is an example of a council?

Council comes from the Latin word concilium for "group of people, meeting," which is what it basically means today. There are student councils, honor councils, or city councils, to name a few. People working together to take care of business — that's a council.

Is a lawyer called counsel?

To counsel is to provide legal advice or guidance to someone on specific subject matter. Counsel is also a lawyer giving advice about a legal matter and representing clients in court. See also: Counselor and Attorney. [Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

What is the council used for?

What do councils do? Local government touches the lives of everybody, every day. Councils deal with everything from schools to care of older people, from roads to rubbish, libraries and local planning. Behind all of this is a web of legislation and bureaucracy that most people don't need to see.

What is the real meaning of counsel?

to give advice, especially on social or personal problems: The police have provided experts to counsel local people affected by the tragedy.

Is it wise council or wise counsel?

A wise council is a group of individuals who have good heads on their shoulders and know how to use them, gathered for a specific purpose, to give advice and/or make decisions. Not to be confused with wise counsel, which is the good advice itself.

What do you mean by council?

A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or national level are not considered councils.

How do you use council in a simple sentence?

Examples from Collins dictionaries

The city council has voted almost unanimously in favour. There is a shortage of council housing. Council tenants around the country are planning a mass lobby of Parliament. He was a member of the council of the Royal Northern College of Music.

What is the difference between counsel and of counsel?

Of counsel is the title of an attorney in the legal profession of the United States who often has a relationship with a law firm or an organization but is neither an associate nor partner. Some firms use titles such as "counsel", "special counsel", and "senior counsel" for the same concept.

What does it mean to counsel someone?

When you give counsel or counsel someone, you give advice. If your neighbor is suing you because your dog keeps eating his begonias, you might seek the counsel of a dog trainer or, if that doesn't work, a lawyer.

When to use council or counsel?

Council usually refers to a group of people gathered for a specific purpose, like a governing body or advisory board, while counsel refers to legal advice or the lawyers giving that advice.

What does of counsel mean in Canada?

Of counsels are lawyers who have an affiliation and working relationship with a law firm, but do not hold a staff title such as partner or associate. They provide legal advice and guidance, often focused in their particular area of legal specialization.

What is student council in simple words?

: a group of students who are elected by other students to represent them in school government and to help plan activities for the students.

What is the meaning of Canada council?

The Canada Council for the Arts is a federal, arm's-length Crown corporation created by an Act of Parliament in 1957 (Canada Council for the Arts Act) "to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.", reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and ...

What is another name for student council?

Other names are student senate, associated students (west coast institutions almost exclusively), or less commonly students' union.