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Meaning & use

agenda

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/əˈdʒendə/
US/əˈdʒendə/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A list of the topics to be discussed at a meeting, in order.

    Grammar: Takes an article or plural: an agenda, agendas.

    Patterns

    • on the agenda
    • set the agenda

    The first item on the agenda is the budget.

    The chairperson sent out the agenda yesterday.

    We ran out of time before reaching the last agenda item.

  2. nouncountable

    A set of plans or aims that a person or group wants to achieve.

    Grammar: Often has a modifier: a political agenda, a busy agenda.

    Patterns

    • push an agenda
    • have an agenda

    The new government has a busy agenda for its first year.

    The group pushes an environmental agenda.

    Their agenda is to cut costs by ten percent.

  3. nouncountabledisapproving

    A hidden reason or purpose behind someone's actions, which may not be fair or honest.

    Grammar: Often used with hidden or personal: a hidden agenda.

    Patterns

    • a hidden agenda
    • have an agenda

    I suspect he has a hidden agenda in offering to help.

    She accused the paper of having a political agenda.

    They denied any personal agenda.

Word forms

pluralagendas

Common combinations

on the agenda
Housing is on the agenda for tonight's meeting.
set the agenda
The mayor sets the agenda for the council.
hidden agenda
He had no hidden agenda, only a wish to help.
political agenda
The group denied it was pushing a political agenda.
agenda item
The agenda item took longer than planned.
top of the agenda
Climate change is at the top of the agenda.

Synonyms and how they differ

schedule
Schedule lists times for events, but agenda lists topics to be covered, even if there are no times.
program
Program is a list of events or activities, and agenda usually implies a business discussion.
plan
Plan is the general word for what someone intends, and agenda suggests an organized list or set of aims.
timetable
Timetable focuses on dates and times, which agenda does not require.

Word family

agendum noun
the rare singular Latin form
agendas noun
the usual English plural
agenda-setting noun
deciding what topics get public attention
agenda-driven adjective
acting mainly to serve a particular aim

Commonly confused: agenda or agendum?

agenda vs agendum

Agendum is the rare Latin singular. In ordinary English, agenda is used as a normal singular noun with the plural agendas.

Practice

The principal said that safety would be at the top of the ____ at tomorrow's staff meeting.

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