Counsel vs Council Explained with Meanings and Uses

Understanding the difference between counsel and council can be tricky because they sound alike but have different meanings and uses. Both are used in formal English, but their contexts are completely different. Let’s learn them in a simple and easy way.

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Meanings of Counsel and Council

Counsel

The word counsel means to give advice or guidance, especially in a professional or legal setting. It can also refer to a lawyer or advisor.

Example: The lawyer gave counsel to his client before the trial.

Council

The word council means a group of people who come together to discuss, decide, or manage something. It is often used in government, education, or community meetings.

Example: The city council decided to improve the local parks.

Differences Between Counsel and Council

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Counsel	Advice or a person who gives advice	The teacher offered good counsel to the students.
Council	A group that makes decisions or plans	The council met to discuss the new policy.

Counsel → Think of advice or an advisor.
Council → Think of a group or committee.

Usage of Counsel

1. As a Noun – means advice or a lawyer.

She sought counsel from her manager.
The defence counsel presented his argument clearly.

2. As a Verb – means to give advice.

The teacher counselled the students about their careers.

Usage of Council

1. As a Noun – means a decision-making group.

The student council organised the annual event.
The local council voted on the new housing plan.

Formal and Informal Uses of Counsel and Council

Formal Uses:

The company hired legal counsel for advice.
The council members discussed the new rules.

Informal Uses:

My friend counselled me to stay calm.
The council is planning a community fair.

Summary on Council vs Counsel

Counsel → Advice or the person who gives advice.
Council → A group of people who make decisions.
Main Difference: Counsel gives advice, while Council makes decisions.