privy council
Noun: 1. A body of advisors to a sovereign or head of state: A "privy council" is a formal group of trusted advisors appointed to give confidential counsel to a monarch or other executive leader. 2. A specific historical or governmental institution: Most commonly, it refers to the private council of the British sovereign, which historically held significant executive, legislative, and judicial powers, though many of these are now ceremonial or exercised through its committees.
- The monarch sought the Privy Council's advice before issuing the royal proclamation.
- Membership in the Privy Council is for life, and members are addressed as "The Right Honourable."
- The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council serves as the highest court of appeal for some Commonwealth nations.
- To be sworn of the Privy Council: This phrase describes the formal ceremony in which a new member takes the oath of office.
- The senior minister was sworn of the Privy Council last week.
- Privy Counsellor (or Privy Councillor): This term refers to an individual member of the council.
- As a Privy Counsellor, she is privy to state secrets.
- Privy Counsellor / Privy Councillor (n): A member of a privy council.
- Privy (adj): An archaic term meaning "sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private," which is the root of the council's name (a private council).
- He was privy to the confidential plans.
- Advisory council
- Royal council
- Inner cabinet (in a historical or metaphorical sense)
The term "privy council" almost exclusively refers to the historical and formal advisory body to a sovereign. Its core meaning is tied to confidential, high-level advising. In a broader, less common sense, it can refer to any similar private advisory group for a leader, but this usage is rare outside of specific historical contexts.
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an advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British Crown)
