businesslike

businesslike — adjective

1. behaving or working in a calm, organised way that focuses on the task and avoids

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

behaving or working in a calm, organised way that focuses on the task and avoids wasting time on jokes, feelings, or personal chatter.

Example

Dr. Tanaka greeted each patient in a warm but businesslike tone.

predicative-style modifier of tone / manner

The new manager runs the Tuesday meetings in a very businesslike way.

in a businesslike way / manner

Common collocations
  • businesslike manner
  • businesslike tone
  • businesslike approach
  • businesslike attitude
  • in a businesslike way
  • brisk and businesslike
  • calm and businesslike
  • cool and businesslike
Synonyms
  • professional

    wider scope; about meeting the standards of a job, not only being efficient

  • efficient

    focuses on speed and low waste, with no hint of emotional distance

  • methodical

    stresses careful step-by-step order rather than overall briskness

  • no-nonsense

    informal; stresses refusing silly behaviour or excuses

Antonyms
  • unprofessional

    fails the basic standards of a working role

  • casual

    relaxed and friendly rather than focused on the task

  • disorganized

    lacking the order that 'businesslike' implies

Usage Note

Often modifies abstract nouns of behaviour rather than people directly: 'a businesslike manner / tone / approach / attitude / fashion'. Carries a positive flavour (focused, capable) but can sound cold when applied to social or emotional moments.

Common Mistakes

Her speech was very business.
Her speech was very businesslike.
the adjective form needs the '-like' suffix.
He spoke in a businesslike with us.
He spoke in a businesslike manner with us.
'businesslike' is an adjective, so it needs a noun like 'manner' or 'tone' after it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe people or behaviour that gets work done well, but the focus differs. 'Professional' is the broadest and most positive: it covers skill, ethics, and presentation in any working role. 'Efficient' zooms in on output — finishing a task with little wasted time or effort, without saying anything about social warmth. 'Methodical' stresses careful order: doing each step in turn, even if the pace is slow. 'No-nonsense' is informal and a little blunt — someone who refuses jokes, excuses, or emotional fuss. 'Businesslike' sits between 'efficient' and 'no-nonsense': it praises a calm, focused, on-task style, but it can sound cool or distant in personal moments. Compare: a nurse can be professional with a crying child, but a businesslike tone there would feel cold.

businesslike ↗professional ↗efficient ↗methodicalno-nonsense ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • brisk and businesslike
  • calm and businesslike
  • cool and businesslike
  • in a businesslike manner
  • a businesslike approach to

Prepositions

  • in (a businesslike manner)
  • about (something)

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English in the late 1700s by joining the noun 'business' with the suffix '-like', meaning 'in the manner of'. Literally 'in the manner of business', it described behaviour that resembled the focused, practical conduct expected in trade and commerce. From there it broadened to praise any person or action that is efficient and on task, even outside an office.