Security Council

American  

noun

1. the division of the United Nations charged with maintaining international peace, composed of five permanent members (U.S., Russian Federation, France, United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China) and ten temporary members, each serving for two years.

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Security Council British  

noun

1. a permanent organ of the United Nations established to maintain world peace. It consists of five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) and ten nonpermanent members

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Security Council Cultural  

1. An important division of the United Nations that contains five permanent members — the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia — and ten rotating members. It is often called into session to respond quickly to international crises. Any permanent member can exercise a veto over a resolution before the Security Council.

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Example Sentences

Last month, Mladenov told the UN Security Council that "the laying down of arms by militant actors would represent a decisive break from cycles of violence that have defined life in Gaza for decades".

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The Iranian delegation includes security officials, such as Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a member of the Supreme National Security Council.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

On 7 April, Pakistan abstained from a UN Security Council resolution urging states to coordinate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council agreed to allow “safe passage” of ships through the strait, and said that negotiations with the U.S. will start Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Given time, legions of men are drawn into the game, both ebony and ivory: the Congo’s CIA station chief, the National Security Council, even the President of the United States.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver