counsel

1 of 2

noun

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

: deliberation, consultation

3

a

archaic : purpose

b

: guarded thoughts or intentions

He was chary and given to keeping his own counsel.

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

b

: consultant sense 2

counsel

2 of 2

verb

counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling ˈkau̇n(t)-s(ə-)liŋ  ; counsels

transitive verb

: advise

… counselled them to avoid rash actions …

—George Orwell

intransitive verb

: 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

Synonyms

Noun

• advocate
• attorney
• attorney-at-law
• counselor
• counsellor
• counselor-at-law
• lawyer
• legal eagle

Verb

• advise
• confab
• confabulate
• confer
• consult
• parley
• treat

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges against Trump in the classified documents case, resigned from the Department of Justice after Trump took office. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025

Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, eventually dismissed the documents case in July 2024, ruling that former Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith had been illegally appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Verb

While Butts retired last February, she was counseled for her claims against the then-superintendent in 2019, per The Wall Street Journal. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025

She was brought in by the family to help Chad, but later began counseling Shari and Kevin too. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English conseil, from Anglo-French cunseil, from Latin consilium, from consulere to consult

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing counsel

• co-counsel

Rhymes for counsel

• council

Kids 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

a 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.

counsel

2 of 2 transitive verb

counseled or counselled; counseling or counselling

: advise

Etymology

Noun

Old French conseil advice, from Latin consilium discussion, advice, council, from consulere to consult