privy council

noun

1. a board or select body of personal advisers, as of a sovereign.
2. (initial capital letters) (in Great Britain) a body of persons who advise the sovereign in matters of state, the majority of members being selected by the prime minister.
3. (sometimes initial capital letters) any similar body, as one appointed to assist the governor of a British dominion.

Privy Council

¹

noun

1. the private council of the British sovereign, consisting of all current and former ministers of the Crown and other distinguished subjects, all of whom are appointed for life See also Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

privy council

²

noun

1. the council of state of a monarch or noble, esp formerly
2. (in Canada) a ceremonial body of advisers of the governor general, the chief of them being the Federal cabinet ministers
3. archaic.
   a private or secret council

Derived Forms

• Privy Counsellor, noun

Other Words From

• privy councilor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of privy council¹

1250–1300; Middle English prive counseil privy counsel

Example Sentences

The books of the Treasury and of the Privy Council were rescued, and are still preserved.

From Project Gutenberg

His continued efforts to suppress the drama finally led the troupes to appeal for re22lief to the Privy Council.

From Project Gutenberg

The Privy Council itself, no doubt, had issued such a general license when the company was organized under royal patronage.

From Project Gutenberg

The manner in which this step was followed up by the government subsequently was unfolded in a minute of the privy-council.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1760 the cabinet, an informal committee of the privy council, was an institution of a different character from that of to-day.

From Project Gutenberg