noun
Very common
minutes
MIH-nihts
Minutes (noun) means the official written record of what was said and decided at a meeting. Example: “Please send round the minutes from Tuesday's board meeting.”
noun
1
The official written record of what was said and decided at a meeting.
"Please send round the minutes from Tuesday's board meeting."
"Could you take the minutes while I chair the meeting?"
"The minutes show that the committee agreed to the new budget."
How to use minutes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe formal notes taken during a meeting, summarizing discussion and decisions.
Common pairings
take minutes
approve the minutes
meeting minutes
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Synonyms
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Rhymes for minutes
See all rhymes for minutes →Frequently asked questions
What does “minutes” mean?
The word “minutes” means the official written record of what was said and decided at a meeting. In plain terms, the formal notes taken during a meeting, summarizing discussion and decisions.
How do you pronounce “minutes”?
“Minutes” is pronounced MIH-nihts (/ˈmɪnɪts/ in IPA).
How do you use “minutes” in a sentence?
Here is “minutes” used in a sentence: “Please send round the minutes from Tuesday's board meeting.”
What part of speech is “minutes”?
“Minutes” is a noun.
Is “minutes” a common word?
“Minutes” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between minutes and an agenda?
An agenda is prepared before a meeting and lists the topics to be discussed — it looks forward. Minutes are written during or after the meeting and record what was actually said, agreed and decided — they look back. The agenda plans the meeting; the minutes document what happened in it.
What should meeting minutes include?
Good minutes record the date and place, who attended and who sent apologies, the main points discussed, the decisions reached, and the action points with the person responsible for each. They stay concise and factual, capturing outcomes rather than every word, so anyone can later see what was agreed and by whom.
Who takes the minutes at a meeting?
Usually a secretary or a nominated minute-taker records them, noting decisions and actions while others focus on the discussion. In formal committees this is often an official role. The minutes are typically circulated afterwards and approved at the next meeting as an accurate record of what took place.
Why are minutes important?
Minutes provide the official record of what a meeting decided, so there is no dispute later about what was agreed. They track who is responsible for each action, remind attendees of their commitments, and serve as a reference and, for many organisations, a formal governance or legal document.
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