agenda

American  

[uh-jen-duh] / əˈdʒɛn də /

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.

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agenda British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of agenda

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

Explanation

An agenda is a list of things to do. If you're going to attend a meeting with a long agenda, you'll want to take your coffee mug along. The word agenda is the plural for of the Latin word agendum, which literally means "something to be done." The noun retains this meaning because an agenda is a plan — organized by time — of events or things to do. You might have a meeting, a lunch date, and a doctor's appointment on your agenda for the day. And when you run for office, you better have a political agenda — or a plan for what you want to get done if elected.

Example Sentences

This small group was part of a wider team at DHS, DOJ and the White House seeking to push forward the president’s agenda.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

And so people, unfortunately, whether it’s academics or even political pundits, want to continue their agenda as opposed to publicly admitting that they were wrong.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Supply chains and rules of origin—in autos and non-autos—are big agenda items, alongside foreign investment.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

And the royals are not deciding the agenda.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

But in the time since the book has come out, as I’ve talked to readers and revisited some of my ideas, I’ve come to believe that there is a social agenda in Blink as well.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• calendar
• plan
• program
• schedule
• timetable