privy council: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Official
Quick answer
What does “privy council” mean?
A formal body of advisers to a sovereign or head of state, especially in the United Kingdom.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal body of advisers to a sovereign or head of state, especially in the United Kingdom.
In some Commonwealth countries, a similar advisory body to the governor-general or president, often with judicial or ceremonial functions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily used in the UK and Commonwealth nations; in the US, the term is rarely used and not part of the governmental structure.
Connotations
In British context, it evokes tradition, monarchy, and exclusivity; in American English, it may be perceived as archaic or specifically British.
Frequency
Common in British political and historical discourse; virtually absent in everyday American English.
Grammar
How to Use “privy council” in a Sentence
[Subject] consults the Privy Council on [matter].The Privy Council advises [authority] regarding [issue].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “privy council” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The monarch may convene the privy council.
American English
- The president does not privy-council; similar functions are handled by other bodies.
adverb
British English
- The issue was discussed privy-councilly, behind closed doors.
American English
- Decisions were made in a privy-council manner, without public input.
adjective
British English
- The privy-council session was held in secret.
American English
- Privy-council matters are often confidential.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; occasionally in contexts involving government relations or international diplomacy.
Academic
Frequently discussed in political science, history, and constitutional law courses.
Everyday
Uncommon; typically encountered in news reports or educational materials.
Technical
Employed in legal and governmental documents to denote specific advisory bodies with formal powers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “privy council”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “privy council”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “privy council”
- Misspelling as 'private council' or 'privey council'.
- Using it synonymously with 'cabinet', which is a distinct entity in many governments.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Privy Council is a formal advisory body to the sovereign, primarily in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, with roles in governance and judiciary.
Yes, it remains active, particularly in the UK, where it handles ceremonial duties, some judicial appeals, and advises on orders in council.
Members are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister, typically including current and former senior politicians, judges, and other eminent figures.
The Cabinet is a subset of government ministers responsible for policy-making, while the Privy Council is a broader advisory body to the monarch, with some members overlapping but distinct functions.
A formal body of advisers to a sovereign or head of state, especially in the United Kingdom.
Privy council is usually formal, official in register.
Privy council: in British English it is pronounced /ˈprɪvi ˈkaʊnsəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈprɪvi ˈkaʊnsəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'privy' as sharing private knowledge and 'council' as a group that advises, so a privy council is a secret advisory group for a ruler.
Conceptual Metaphor
An inner circle or exclusive advisory group.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of the Privy Council?