English UsageGrammar guide

Plural of Agendum

“Agendum” has the documented plurals “agenda” and “agendums.” The history is unusual because “agenda,” originally a plural form, is now independently established as an ordinary singular noun in modern English and takes “agendas” as its plural.

Quick answer

Merriam-Webster gives both “agenda” and “agendums” as plurals of “agendum.” In modern general English, “agenda” is also established as a singular count noun with plural “agendas.”

Key details

Confusion Familyclassical and reanalyzed plural
Rule Familyplural and countability
Termsagendum, agenda, agendums, agendas
Variant ScopeFor the rare noun agendum, Merriam-Webster lists agenda or agendums as plurals; modern agenda has its own singular/plural pattern.

Further guidance

Core difference

The plural of the rare singular “agendum” can be “agenda” or “agendums.”

Fast Test

If you are using ordinary modern “agenda” to mean a list or plan, treat it as singular and use “agendas” for more than one.

Usage Boundary

Do not assume that every modern “agenda” must be parsed as the plural of “agendum”; modern English has reanalyzed “agenda” as a singular count noun.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. agendum — Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Direct dictionary evidence that agendum has plural agenda or agendums and can mean an agenda item.

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