businesslike

adjective

busi·​ness·​like ˈbiz-nəs-ˌlīk 

-nəz-

1

: exhibiting qualities believed to be advantageous in business

2

: serious, purposeful

Examples of businesslike in a Sentence

His businesslike approach to the dispute was very helpful.

Recent Examples on the Web

Smart money would tell the Niners to turn in another businesslike performance after the bye, put 10 wins and a playoff berth in the bag and hold on until the playoffs. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025

Sheehy’s fellow first-term Republicans are showing off different approaches to Trump-era governing, with two poles in the brash and aggressive Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and the more businesslike quiet of Sen. David McCormick, R-Pa. Sheehy falls somewhere in between the two. —Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025

As the subject of Materialists, Lucy’s coolness evolves from a businesslike need to maintain control over a situation. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025

And how would the famously gruff and businesslike Belichick work with nineteen-year-olds? —Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for businesslike

• statesmanlike
• unladylike
• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich

Kids Definition

businesslike

adjective

busi·​ness·​like ˈbiz-nə-ˌslīk 

-nəz-ˌlīk

: having or showing qualities desirable in business