Dictionary

businesslike en · ADJ

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *bisīg Old English bisiġ Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Old English bisiġnes Middle English bisynes English business Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -like English -like English businesslike From business + -like.

Meanings

1. Methodical and efficient, in a way that would be advantageous to a business or businessperson.
   • Further along, the road passes a low E-shape of red-brick estate buildings, obviously modern, yet all of a piece with this sensible, attractive and businesslike village. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 375, about Terling:
   • The gunners stood by the guns waiting, and the ammunition waggons were at a business-like distance. 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann:
2. Earnest and practical without being distracted or enthusiastic.
   • Then, with a businesslike rigor, he grasped the outstretched palm of Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady. 2024 November 1, Rebecca Davis O’Brien, “Did Ron DeSantis Shake His Wife’s Hand?”, in The New York Times:

Forms

Deriveds

businesslikeness · businesslikely · unbusinesslike

Synonyms

matter-of-fact (earnest, practical and undistracted) · focused (earnest, practical and undistracted) · earnest (earnest, practical and undistracted)

Translations (17)

ko 사무적 (earnest, practical and undistracted) · nl zakelijk (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · eo afereca (earnest, practical and undistracted) · lv veikalniecisks (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · de sachbezogen (earnest, practical and undistracted) · ru делово́й (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · pl biznesowy (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · ca negociós (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · ru делово́й (earnest, practical and undistracted) · ko 업무적 (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · eo negoca (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · nl zakelijk (earnest, practical and undistracted) · eo afereca (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · bg делови (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · ga críochnúil (earnest, practical and undistracted) · ko 사무적 (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business) · de geschäftsmäßig (methodical and efficient in a way advantageous to business)