agenda

[uh-jen-duh]

noun

agendum , agendas, agenda .

1. a list, plan, outline, or the like, of things to be done, matters to be acted or voted upon, etc..

   The chairman says we have a lengthy agenda this afternoon.

agenda

/ əˈdʒɛndə /

noun

1. Also called: agendum. (functioning as singular) a schedule or list of items to be attended to

2. Also called: agendas.  agendums. (functioning as plural) matters to be attended to, as at a meeting of a committee

Usage

Agenda, “things to be done,” is the plural of the Latin gerund agendum and is used today in the sense “a plan or list of matters to be acted upon.” In that sense it is treated as a singular noun; its plural is usually agendas: The agenda is ready for distribution. The agendas of last year's meetings are printed in the official minutes. The singular agendum, meaning “an item on an agenda,” is rare.

Other Word Forms

• agendaless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agenda¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from Latin, plural of agendum “that which is to be done,” gerund of agere “to do, drive”; the plural originally carried a collective sense denoting the various items to be transacted

Word History and Origins

Origin of agenda¹

C17: Latin, literally: things to be done, from agere to do

Example Sentences

The president’s agenda suffered several setbacks this week, as federal judges across the country ruled his administration had broken the law in various instances.

From Los Angeles Times

A Tannoy announcement was one of the first signs Reform UK's conference agenda had been upended by events in Westminster.

From BBC

The campaign ads against Bowman and Bush did not center the question of Palestine or Israel’s war, but instead focused on things like the members’ loyalty to Biden’s domestic policy agenda.

From Salon

Breyer…took the unusual step of criticizing a ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, to which he nominally reports, for its dangerous acquiescence in the president’s authoritarian agenda.

From Salon

Earlier, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme he expected the issue to be "high on the agenda" at Thursday's meeting.

From BBC

Related Words

• calendar 
• plan 
• program 
• schedule 
• timetable