Meetings Vocabulary

word
meaning example sentence
part of speech
absent The vice president is absent due
not present
adj to unforeseen circumstances.
accomplish We have a lot to accomplish
succeed in doing
verb today, so let's begin.
address I hope we do not have to address
deal with; speak on
verb this matter again in the future.
adjourn If there are no further comments,
close a meeting
verb we will adjourn the meeting here.
Please forward the agenda to
agenda list of objectives to cover in a
anyone who is speaking at the
noun meeting
meeting.
AGM Annual (yearly) General We always vote for a new
noun(abbr.) Meeting chairperson at the AGM.
allocate assign roles/tasks to certain I forgot to allocate someone to
verb people bring refreshments.
AOB Any Other Business The last item on the agenda is
noun(abbr.) (unspecified item on agenda) AOB.
item on agenda announcing
apologies Everyone is present today, so we
people who are absent;
noun can skip the apologies.
apologies for absence
ballot a type of vote, usually in Please fold your ballot in half
noun writing and usually secret before you place it in the box.
group of elected members of The board of directors meets
board of directors
an organization/company once a month to discuss the
noun
who meet to make decisions budget.
a large meeting room, often The boardroom is reserved for a
boardroom
has one long table and many managers' meeting, so we'll have
noun
chairs to meet in the lounge.
Let's take a few minutes and
brainstorm
thinking to gather ideas brainstorm some ways that we
verb
can cut costs.
casting vote deciding vote (usually by the chairman) The role of treasurer was decided
noun when the votes are otherwise equal based on the chairman's casting vote.
chairperson/
the person who leads or presides at a As chair, it is my pleasure to introduce
chair
meeting to you, Mr. Allan Davis.
noun
clarification/ Before we address this matter, I'll need
explanation/proof that something is
verification some clarification as to who was
true/understood
noun involved.
closing
last thoughts spoken in a meeting (i.e. I just have a few closing remarks and
remarks
reminders, thank yous) then you will all be free to go.
noun
collaborate The board fell apart because the
work together as a pair/group
verb members had difficulty collaborating.
commence We will commence as soon as the last
begin
verb person signs the attendance sheet.
comment If you have a comment, please raise
express one's opinions or thoughts
verb or noun your hand rather than speak out.
Before the conference there will be a
conference formal meeting for discussion, esp. a
private meeting for board members
noun regular one held by an organisation
only.
conference Please make sure I have no
telephone meeting between three or
call interruptions while I'm on the
more people in different locations
noun conference call.
Any financial information shared during
confidential
private; not to be shared this meeting should be kept
adjective
confidential.
If we cannot come to a consensus by
consensus
general agreement the end of the meeting we will put it to a
noun
vote.
deadline The deadline for buying tickets to the
due date for completion
noun conference is May 25th.
designate If no one volunteers to take the minutes
assign
verb I will be forced to designate someone.
Everyone knows who is going to be the
formality a procedure (often unnecessary) that
next vice president, so this vote is really
noun has to be followed due to a rule
just a formality.
grievance The first item on the agenda relates to a
complaint
noun grievance reported by the interns.
guest I am delighted to welcome our guest
person who joins the group in order to
speaker speaker Holly, who is going to be
share information or deliver a speech
noun offering some sales pitch tips.
It's not a question of whether or not
implement make something happen; follow
we're going to use this idea, it's whether
verb through
or not we know how to implement it.
mandatory It is mandatory that all supervisors
required
adjective attend Friday's meeting.
Before we begin with today's meeting,
minutes a written record of everything said at a
let's quickly review the minutes from
noun meeting
last month.
motion The motion to extend store hours has
a suggestion put to a vote
noun been passed.
I'm pleased that we were able to cover
objectives
goals to accomplish all of the objectives today within the
noun
designated time.
opening As I mentioned in my opening
chairperson or leader's first words at a
remarks remarks, we have to clear this room
meeting (i.e. welcome, introductions)
noun before the end of the hour.
I'm going to put a pie chart on the
overhead machine with a special light that
overhead projector so that everyone
projector projects a document onto a screen or
can visualize how our profits have
noun wall so that all can see
declined.
Can I have a show of hands of all of
participant person who attends and joins in on an
those who were participants in last
noun event
year's conference?
There must have been one proxy vote
proxy vote a vote cast by one person for or in
because I count twelve ballots but only
noun place of another
eleven attendees.
punctual Firstly, I want to thank you all for being
on time (not late)
adjective punctual despite this early meeting.
recommend I recommend that you sit closer to the
suggest
verb front if you have trouble hearing.
show of From the show of hands it appears
raised hands to express an opinion in a
hands that everyone is in favour of taking a
vote
noun short break.
We need to come up with a strategy
strategy
plan to make something work that will allow us to have meetings less
noun
frequently.
unanimous in complete agreement; united in The vote was unanimous to cut work
adj opinion hours on Fridays.
vote to express (the expression of) an We need to vote for a new vice
verb or noun opinion in a group by voice or hand etc chairperson now that Jerry is retiring.
wrap up Let's wrap up here so that we can get
finish
verb back to our desks.