order of business

noun phrase

: a matter which must be dealt with : task

The budget was the first order of business at the committee meeting.

Examples of order of business in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pretending to be moderate to win elections is the first order of business. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026

Your first order of business at Black River State Park should be a leisurely paddle. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026

His first order of business will be to do whatever Lionel Messi tells him to do. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

And LeBron’s decision was the last order of business for multiple teams setting their rosters mid-summer. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

order of business (predetermined sequence of matters to be dealt with by an assembly)

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for order of business

• agribusiness
• nonbusiness