agenda
uh-JEHN-duh
Agenda (noun) means a list of items to be discussed or dealt with, especially at a meeting. Example: “The first item on the agenda was the budget.”
noun
1
A list of items to be discussed or dealt with, especially at a meeting.
"The first item on the agenda was the budget."
"Please send me the agenda before tomorrow's meeting."
"We ran out of time before we reached the last point on the agenda."
2
A hidden or underlying set of motives behind someone's actions.
"Critics accused the journalist of pushing a political agenda."
"She suspected he had a hidden agenda for suggesting the merger."
"I never trust a salesman who seems to have an agenda of his own."
How to use agenda
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA list of things to discuss or do, or (less neutrally) someone's underlying motive.
Common pairings
hidden agenda
set the agenda
on the agenda
political agenda
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like agenda.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- agendas, agendae
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The first item on the _____ was the budget.
Etymology
From Latin agenda, literally "things that must be done" — the plural gerundive of agere ("to do, act").
Related words
Rhymes for agenda
See all rhymes for agenda →Frequently asked questions
What does “agenda” mean?
The word “agenda” means a list of items to be discussed or dealt with, especially at a meeting. In plain terms, a list of things to discuss or do, or (less neutrally) someone's underlying motive.
How do you pronounce “agenda”?
“Agenda” is pronounced uh-JEHN-duh (/əˈd͡ʒɛn.də/ in IPA).
How do you use “agenda” in a sentence?
Here is “agenda” used in a sentence: “The first item on the agenda was the budget.”
What part of speech is “agenda”?
“Agenda” is a noun.
Where does the word “agenda” come from?
The word “agenda” comes from Latin. From Latin agenda, literally "things that must be done" — the plural gerundive of agere ("to do, act").
Is “agenda” a common word?
“Agenda” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “agenda” have?
“Agenda” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a list of items to be discussed or dealt with, especially at a meeting.
What is the difference between an 'agenda' and 'minutes'?
An agenda is the list of items to be discussed at a meeting, prepared beforehand, while minutes are the written record of what was actually said and decided, produced afterward. In short, the agenda plans the meeting and the minutes report it.
Is 'agenda' singular or plural?
In modern English "agenda" is treated as a singular noun with the plural "agendas," as in "two agendas." Although it began as a Latin plural, saying "an agenda" and "the agendas were long" is now standard.
What verbs commonly go with 'agenda'?
You typically "set," "draw up," or "prepare" an agenda before a meeting, "follow" or "stick to" it during, and put an item "on the agenda." These collocations describe planning and controlling what a meeting covers.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include agenda:
