Council or counsel?

Council and counsel are both nouns; the latter also has a verb form. Although they sound the same, they differ in meaning (and are related).

đŸ‘đŸŒ Usage Note
✓ The city council has approved the new budget.
✓ She counseled him to seek professional help.
✗ The lawyer gave her some good councils.
✗ Counsels were given to the young couple.
  • Council (noun) — a group of people elected to govern an area (city, county, etc.), or a group that meets to make rules or discuss issues.
  • Counsel (noun or verb) — as a noun, advice or legal representation; as a verb, the act of giving advice.

“Council”, used in sentences

Word Form Notes / Examples
Other “Assembly of persons for consultation, deliberation or advice,” early 12c., originally in the Church sense, from Anglo-French cuncile.
Related forms: c. 1200 “advice or instruction given”; c. 1300 “mutual advising or interchange of opinions, consultation,” from Old French counseil “advice, counsel; deliberation, thought” (10c.), from Latin consilium “plan, opinion”.

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Worksheet

Question 1 of 5

The city ______ voted to approve the new park.

She sought legal ______ before signing the contract.

The student asked for the teacher’s ______ about college choices.

He was elected to the town ______ last year.

Her lawyer offered valuable ______ during the trial.

FAQs

What is the difference: council vs counsel? +

Council refers to a governing body or group meeting to make rules. Counsel refers to advice, legal help (noun), or the act of giving advice (verb). They sound alike but differ in meaning.

Is “counsel” always a noun? +

No. Counsel can be a noun meaning advice or legal representation, or a verb meaning to give advice (e.g., "She counseled him...").

What does ‘council’ mean? +

Council means a group of people elected to govern an area, like a city or county, or a group meeting to make rules and discuss issues.

Can ‘counsel’ (advice) be plural? +

No. When counsel means advice it is uncountable and does not take a plural form (so not "councils" for advice).

Give an example using ‘counsel’. +

Examples: "According to his doctor’s counsel, he needs to eat less red meat." / "He is there to give you counsel on all matters."
Sources
  1. Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “council” and “counsel”. Accessed 11 March, 2024.
  2. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of counsel.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/counsel. Accessed 12 March, 2024.