order of business
C1Formal; Institutional
Definition
Meaning
The specific arrangement or sequence of items to be discussed or dealt with during a formal meeting or gathering.
The accepted or customary way of proceeding with any activity or situation; also refers figuratively to the current priority or main task at hand.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable, singular noun phrase, but can be pluralised as 'orders of business'. Often part of a procedural framework in formal assemblies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both formal procedural contexts (e.g., parliamentary, corporate). British English may be more likely to use 'agenda' interchangeably in less formal settings.
Connotations
Strongly associated with Robert's Rules of Order and formal meeting procedures in both regions.
Frequency
More common in formal American corporate and parliamentary procedure contexts. In UK, 'agenda' is more frequent overall, but 'order of business' is standard in formal governance.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [NOUN:POSSESSIVE] order of business was...We must establish an order of business.Item three on the order of business is...According to the order of business,...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “First order of business (meaning 'the first priority')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in board meetings, shareholder meetings, and formal committees to denote the approved sequence of topics.
Academic
Used in student government, faculty senate meetings, and academic conferences.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously to structure a family discussion.
Technical
A specific term in parliamentary procedure and formal meeting rules (e.g., Robert's Rules of Order).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We should order the business of the meeting more efficiently.
American English
- The chair will order the business according to the bylaws.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The first order of business is to welcome our new members.
- Let's agree on the order of business before we start the meeting.
- The secretary circulated the proposed order of business for the quarterly review.
- A motion was passed to suspend the regular order of business to address the emergency item.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BUSINESS meeting in a specific ORDER: the ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCEDURES ARE SEQUENCES; A MEETING IS A JOURNEY (with a planned route).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'порядок бизнеса' or confusing with 'очередность дел'. Use 'повестка дня' (agenda) or 'регламент' (procedure/rules).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'order of business' for a simple to-do list (too formal). Confusing it with 'business order' (a commercial purchase).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'order of business' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal parliamentary procedure, they are distinct. The 'agenda' is the list of topics; the 'order of business' is the specific, rule-governed sequence in which those topics and procedural items (like minutes, reports) are handled.
It would sound overly formal and procedural. 'Priority tasks', 'next steps', or simply 'list' are more natural for everyday project management.
It is a fixed phrase meaning the very first item or priority to be addressed. It is often used figuratively outside meetings (e.g., 'Our first order of business is to find a hotel').
Stress falls on 'OR-der' and 'BUS-i-ness'. The main difference between UK and US pronunciation is the vowel in 'order' (/ɔː/ in UK, /ɔːr/ in US) and the 't' in 'business' (/ˈbɪznəs/ in both, but US may have a slightly clearer /s/).
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