council of europe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal
Quick answer
What does “council of europe” mean?
An international organization established to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law among its member states.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An international organization established to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law among its member states.
A pan-European political organization, distinct from the European Union, whose main achievements include the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; it is a proper name of an international institution.
Connotations
Connotes European integration, human rights, and legal cooperation.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English due to the UK's long-standing membership; slightly less common in general US discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “council of europe” in a Sentence
[The] Council of Europe + [verb: monitors, adopts, promotes]a [member/decision/report] of the Council of EuropeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “council of europe” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Council of Europe standards
- Council of Europe convention
American English
- Council of Europe report
- Council of Europe membership
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in contexts of international compliance and human rights due diligence.
Academic
Frequent in political science, law, and international relations texts discussing European institutions and human rights.
Everyday
Low frequency, mainly in news reports about European politics or human rights issues.
Technical
Core term in legal and political discourse concerning European human rights law and intergovernmental cooperation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “council of europe”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “council of europe”
- Using lowercase ('council of europe')
- Confusing it with the European Union or the European Council.
- Using 'European Council' as a synonym.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a completely separate organization with more member states than the EU, focused on human rights and legal standards.
Its headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
It does not create directly binding EU-style legislation. It creates international treaties and conventions which member states agree to implement, and its European Court of Human Rights issues binding judgments.
An international organization established to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law among its member states.
Council of europe is usually formal in register.
Council of europe: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkaʊnsl əv ˈjʊərəp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkaʊnsəl əv ˈjʊrəp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'COE' – Champions Of European rights.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GUARDIAN OF RIGHTS (it protects and watches over democratic values).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key institution of the Council of Europe?