Council vs. Conference — What's the Difference?

A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or national level are not considered councils.

A conference is a meeting of people who "confer" about a topic.

An assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion.

A dessert pear of a firm-fleshed variety.

A body of people elected or appointed to serve as administrators, legislators, or advisers.

Take part in a conference or conference call

An assembly of church officials and theologians convened for regulating matters of doctrine and discipline.

A meeting for consultation or discussion.

The discussion or deliberation that takes place in such an assembly or body.

An exchange of views.

A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council).

A meeting of committees to settle differences between two legislative bodies.

Discussion or deliberation.

An assembly of clerical or of clerical and lay members from a particular district in various Protestant churches.

An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case.

(Sports) An association of teams.

A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council.

The act of conferring, as of an academic degree.

Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation.

The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

A body serving in an administrative capacity;

(politics) A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.

(Christianity) an assembly or theologians and bishops and other representative of different churches or dioceses that is convened to regulate matters of discipline or doctrine

(science) A formal event where scientists present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.

A meeting of people for consultation;

(business) An event organized by a for-profit or non-profit organization to discuss a pressing issue, such as a new product, market trend or government regulation, with a range of speakers.

(sports) A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.

A constituent tournament of a sports league in a given season.

(obsolete) The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.

(Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination.

The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.

The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions.

A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them.

A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

A prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)

An association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

A discussion among participants who have an agreed (serious) topic