What does "agenda" mean?

1. (meeting list) a list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting. 2. (personal plan) a plan or list of things you want to achieve. 3. (hidden motive) a secret reason for doing something, often to get an advantage for yourself. 4. (planner book) a small book or diary used to write down appointments and tasks.

How do you use "agenda"?

Often used with the verbs 'set', 'follow', or 'stick to'. Commonly used in the phrase 'hidden agenda'.

agenda

US //əˈdʒɛndə// UK //ɐdʒˈɛndɐ// agen·da

1 meeting list (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting.

a formal list of matters to be addressed or discussed during a meeting or session.

Example

The first item on the agenda for today's meeting is the new budget.

Example

The chairperson requested that any additional points be submitted forty-eight hours before the meeting to ensure they were included on the formal agenda.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'set', 'follow', or 'stick to'.
2 personal plan (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a plan or list of things you want to achieve.

a temporally organized plan or set of goals for matters to be attended to.

Example

Improving public transport is at the top of the government's agenda.

Example

The director made it clear that digital transformation would remain at the top of the corporate agenda for the next fiscal year.

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3 hidden motive (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a secret reason for doing something, often to get an advantage for yourself.

an underlying or ulterior motive; a set of personal goals that are not openly stated.

Example

I think he has a hidden agenda for helping us with the project.

Example

Critics argued that the senator had a hidden agenda, suggesting his support for the bill was motivated by private business interests.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'hidden agenda'.

Teacher's tip

This sense often carries a negative or suspicious tone in conversation.
- motive
- hidden aim
4 planner book (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a small book or diary used to write down appointments and tasks.

a physical notebook or digital application used to organize and maintain plans, appointments, or lists.

Example

She wrote the date of the dentist appointment in her agenda.

Example

He checked his agenda to see if he was available for a lunch meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Teacher's tip

In many European languages, the word for 'diary' or 'planner' is a cognate of 'agenda', making this a common point of transfer for learners.

Origin

From Latin agenda (“things that ought to be done”), future passive participle (gerundive) of agō (“I do, act, make”).