coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl 
1
a
: advice given especially as a result of consultation
He was unwise to reject my counsel.
b
: a policy or plan of action or behavior
2
3
4
a
plural counsel
(1)
: a lawyer engaged in the trial or management of a case in court
(2)
: a lawyer appointed to advise and represent in legal matters an individual client or a corporate and especially a public body
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ
; counsels
; counsels
: advise
… counselled them to avoid rash actions …—
George Orwell
George Orwell
: consult
… I remember Englishmen, like the Colensos, who sat and counseled with us; but above all, I remember Coleridge-Taylor.—W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du BoisSynonyms
Examples of counsel in a Sentence
Noun
We seek counsel from the rich and powerful to learn their secret …
—Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Feb. 2004
God had done a poor job, and Soaphead suspected that he himself could have done better. It was in fact a pity that the Maker had not sought his counsel.
—Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, (1970) 1994
No matter how much time he is given, counsel would always like more, but the Chief Justice will not grant an extra minute unless the lawyer is responding to a question from the bench.
—Robert H. Bork, The Tempting Of America, 1990
Counsel were to be employed. … And when the matter had been decided by the lawyers, Lord Fawn was to express his regret for having suspected his lady-love!
—Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1871
You were unwise to reject my counsel.
The student sought counsel from her teacher.
She is serving as counsel for the defendant.
All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court.
Verb
He balked at authority and, according to Mr. Green, tuned you out if you tried to counsel him.
—David Grann, New Republic, 14 Feb. 2000
She had six children, whom she counseled and with great wisdom and patience.
—Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967
I had counselled Catherine to dine upstairs, but as soon as he perceived her vacant seat he sent me to call her.
—Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847
He counsels people who are trying to quit drinking.
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Feb. 2004
God had done a poor job, and Soaphead suspected that he himself could have done better. It was in fact a pity that the Maker had not sought his counsel.
—Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, (1970) 1994
No matter how much time he is given, counsel would always like more, but the Chief Justice will not grant an extra minute unless the lawyer is responding to a question from the bench.
—Robert H. Bork, The Tempting Of America, 1990
Counsel were to be employed. … And when the matter had been decided by the lawyers, Lord Fawn was to express his regret for having suspected his lady-love!
—Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1871
You were unwise to reject my counsel.
The student sought counsel from her teacher.
She is serving as counsel for the defendant.
All counsel are expected to obey the rules of the court.
Verb
He balked at authority and, according to Mr. Green, tuned you out if you tried to counsel him.
—David Grann, New Republic, 14 Feb. 2000
She had six children, whom she counseled and with great wisdom and patience.
—Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967
I had counselled Catherine to dine upstairs, but as soon as he perceived her vacant seat he sent me to call her.
—Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847
He counsels people who are trying to quit drinking.
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Recent Examples on the WebElizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
But if the Supreme Court sides with the special counsel — who has succeeded before two lower courts — and the justices reject Trump's claims of broad immunity, proceedings in the case could resume.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump for conspiring to subvert the results of the 2020 election, and the judge originally scheduled the trial for March.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The case specifically relates to special counsel Jack Smith’s charges that Trump attempted to subvert the 2020 presidential election.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2024
But there should be no illusions: given the calendar, any delay would practically guarantee that the special counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump for seeking to overturn the 2020 election results will not go to trial until after the 2024 election.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
Depending on its timing and content, the decision will also help determine whether Mr. Trump’s trial will start before the election, in time to let both jurors and voters evaluate the evidence that Jack Smith, the special counsel in the case, seeks to present.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
What is the prosecutor's argument? Smith, the special counsel, argues presidents can function effectively without criminal immunity, something that neither the framers of the Constitution nor any other president contemplated.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Approximately a year and a half into his tenure, Gilbert-Lurie was informed that he was being promoted to general counsel for Walt Disney Pictures.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Shoshanna Solomon, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
But professionals in the field say that outlawing such treatments or even counseling for younger children can produce long-standing psychological problems.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Detroit's right to counsel program In Detroit, CERA is one slice of the funding that pays for legal aid lawyers.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Asking patients about access to firearms and counseling them toward responsible storage could be one part of that.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
But there are several key commonalities to keep in mind, according to experts who counsel cancer patients and their families.
—Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2024
Since then, she's continued to counsel her students through the trauma, and their struggles with eating or studying.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
This may involve counseling the manager, providing additional training or support, or taking disciplinary action as necessary.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Police identified at least two other victims who were being counseled by Wyatt.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
Federal prosecutors led by special counsel Jack Smith say Trump’s actions constituted a series of crimes.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
But if the Supreme Court sides with the special counsel — who has succeeded before two lower courts — and the justices reject Trump's claims of broad immunity, proceedings in the case could resume.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump for conspiring to subvert the results of the 2020 election, and the judge originally scheduled the trial for March.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The case specifically relates to special counsel Jack Smith’s charges that Trump attempted to subvert the 2020 presidential election.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2024
But there should be no illusions: given the calendar, any delay would practically guarantee that the special counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump for seeking to overturn the 2020 election results will not go to trial until after the 2024 election.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
Depending on its timing and content, the decision will also help determine whether Mr. Trump’s trial will start before the election, in time to let both jurors and voters evaluate the evidence that Jack Smith, the special counsel in the case, seeks to present.
—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
What is the prosecutor's argument? Smith, the special counsel, argues presidents can function effectively without criminal immunity, something that neither the framers of the Constitution nor any other president contemplated.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Approximately a year and a half into his tenure, Gilbert-Lurie was informed that he was being promoted to general counsel for Walt Disney Pictures.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Voices counseling Israel to avoid escalation and preserve that coalition have been constant.
—Shoshanna Solomon, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
But professionals in the field say that outlawing such treatments or even counseling for younger children can produce long-standing psychological problems.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Detroit's right to counsel program In Detroit, CERA is one slice of the funding that pays for legal aid lawyers.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Asking patients about access to firearms and counseling them toward responsible storage could be one part of that.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
But there are several key commonalities to keep in mind, according to experts who counsel cancer patients and their families.
—Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2024
Since then, she's continued to counsel her students through the trauma, and their struggles with eating or studying.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
This may involve counseling the manager, providing additional training or support, or taking disciplinary action as necessary.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Police identified at least two other victims who were being counseled by Wyatt.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counsel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near counsel
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counsel. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl
1
: advice given
2
: the act of deliberating or consulting
took counsel together
3
plural counsel
: a lawyer who represents a person or group in a court of law
counsel
2 of 2 verb
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
-s(ə-)liŋ
1
: to give advice to
counsel a student on a choice of studies
2
: to seek advice : consult
counsel with friends
Medical Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n(t)-səl
: advice given especially as a result of consultation
counsel
2 of 2 transitive verb
counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling
-s(ə-)liŋ
: to advise especially seriously and formally after consultation
Legal Definition
counsel
1 of 2 noun
coun·sel
ˈkau̇n-səl
plural counsel
: lawyer: as
a
: a lawyer participating in the management or trial of a case in court
…to have the assistance of counsel for his defense—U.S. Constitution amend. VI
U.S. Constitution amend. VIa right to counsel
b
: a lawyer appointed or engaged to advise or represent a client in legal matters (as negotiations or the drafting of documents) compare attorney
Note: A judge who has acted as counsel in a matter (as by advising an investigator) is disqualified from hearing the case.
Etymology
Noun
Old French conseil advice, from Latin consilium discussion, advice, council, from consulere to consult
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