# agenda

/əˈdʒɛndə/ (US) · /ɐdʒˈɛndɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/agenda
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. meeting list

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

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

noun · CEFR B2

a plan or list of things you want to achieve.

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

- Improving public transport is at the top of the government's agenda.
- The director made it clear that digital transformation would remain at the top of the corporate agenda for the next fiscal year.

### 3. hidden motive

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

Teaching tip: This sense often carries a negative or suspicious tone in conversation.

### 4. planner book

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- She wrote the date of the dentist appointment in her agenda.
- He checked his agenda to see if he was available for a lunch meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Teaching 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.

## Examples

- The first item on the agenda is the new budget.
- The committee chair sent out the agenda two days before the meeting so everyone could prepare.
- While the public discussion focused on environmental safety, critics argued that the corporation had a hidden political agenda regarding the upcoming local elections.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.