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Council or Counsel?
Council or Counsel?
What is the difference between "council" and "counsel"?- "A council" is a committee elected to lead or govern.
- "Counsel" is advice (usually legal advice).
- "To counsel" means to advise.


More about "Council" and "Counsel"
Writers occasionally confuse the words "council" and "counsel." "Council" and "counsel" are homonyms (specifically homophones) because they sound the same. However, their meanings are quite different.Council
The noun "council" refers to an assembly of people who serve in an administrative capacity. For example, a committee elected to lead or govern could be described as a council (e.g., a church council, a town council, student council).Example sentences with "council":
- The emergency session was convened due to the failure of the United Nations Security Council to resolve the instability at the Suez Canal.
- In December 1046, Holy Roman Emperor Henry III established a church council to reform the papacy.
- She yelled: "It's not the council's job to sift through your bins for glass."
- Why do people living in council housing estates pay council tax?
- This is council parking not private parking.
Counsel
The word "counsel" is most commonly a verb meaning "to give advice." It is also a noun meaning advice (usually legal assistance) or opinion. Counsel can also refer to a body of people set up to offer advice (usually legal advice), e.g., the Queen's Counsel, the General Counsel of the Army.Example sentences with "counsel":
- We are seeking staff who can counsel the homeless on where to attain social services.
- The litigation team offers excellent counsel on a wide range of subjects.
- After bereavement, who counsels the counsellor?
Councilors and Counselors
Councilors work in a council. For example:
City council sign in Aberdeen, Scotland

Sign of the General Counsel of the Army (US Army)
Common Terms with "Council" and "Counsel"
Common terms with "council":- council members
- council voters
- council tax
- council housing
- council jobs
- council area
- counselling courses
- counsellor
- counsel and care
- counsel in court
- to counsel opinion
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?