order of business

noun

1. a task assigned or to be dealt with.

   Our first order of business is to reduce expenses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of order of business¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

It was widely suspected that among Kennedy’s first orders of business would be to do away with vaccines.

From Salon

Her first order of business, however, is pitting the scowling Ritter and bland, industrious Wittmers, who had managed a bearable distance so far, against each other.

From Los Angeles Times

Rebuilding individual houses is of course the first order of business.

From Los Angeles Times

When the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan three years ago, one of the group’s first orders of business was to systematically erase women’s rights.

From New York Times

Right now, the first order of business is to shake off the defeat and confront the challenge of Donald Trump's ghastly agenda.

From Salon

Related Words

• order of the day