council of war: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “council of war” mean?
A meeting held by military leaders or commanders to plan strategy, especially before or during a battle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A meeting held by military leaders or commanders to plan strategy, especially before or during a battle.
Any high-stakes, urgent meeting where strategy is planned to address a serious challenge or crisis, often implying secrecy and solemnity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. More likely to appear in British historical or journalistic contexts due to deeper military tradition in common discourse.
Connotations
Connotes gravity, urgency, and strategic necessity in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. Slightly higher in UK historical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “council of war” in a Sentence
[Subject] convened a council of war.A council of war was held to [infinitive phrase].They gathered for a council of war.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically for an urgent executive meeting during a corporate takeover or major crisis.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or military history texts to describe command decisions.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual speech; might be used humorously or hyperbolically (e.g., 'We need a council of war to plan the family holiday').
Technical
Specific term in military history and theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “council of war”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “council of war”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “council of war”
- Using it to describe any meeting, losing the crucial elements of crisis and strategy.
- Misspelling as 'counsel of war' (counsel = advice/lawyer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare and primarily used for dramatic effect or in historical contexts. More common alternatives are 'crisis meeting' or 'strategy session'.
Yes, but only figuratively. It is used to stress that a meeting is about a serious, strategic response to a critical problem, such as in business or politics.
'Council' is correct and means a formal advisory or decision-making body. 'Counsel' means advice or a lawyer; 'counsel of war' would be incorrect.
No. Its core meaning is literal, but its modern figurative use applies to any 'battle' or serious conflict, such as in business, sports, or politics.
A meeting held by military leaders or commanders to plan strategy, especially before or during a battle.
Council of war is usually formal, literary, historical in register.
Council of war: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊn.səl əv ˈwɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊn.səl əv ˈwɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hold a council of war”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a medieval king's WAR COUNCIL (council of war) gathered around a map in a candlelit tent, planning the next day's battle.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS/SPORTS/POLITICS IS WAR (A serious planning meeting is a council of war).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would the use of 'council of war' be MOST appropriate?