Word
procedure
Phoneticspro·ce·dure, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹəˈsidʒɝ/
UK/pɹəsˈiːdʒɐ/
Definitions
01a set of steps
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the official or correct way of doing something, often involving a series of steps.
n. an established or official way of doing something; a series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner.
“The company has a strict procedure for handling customer complaints.”
“Standard operating procedures require all staff to sign out of the secure server before leaving the building for their lunch break.”
02medical operation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a medical treatment or operation performed by a doctor.
n. a surgical operation or a specific medical treatment.
“The doctor explained that the procedure would take about two hours.”
“The patient underwent a minor surgical procedure to remove the cyst, returning home later that same afternoon.”
03computing
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a part of a computer program that performs a specific task.
n. a set of instructions within a computer program that performs a specific task, often distinguished from a function by not returning a value.
“The programmer wrote a new procedure to sort the data automatically.”
“The main program calls this procedure whenever the user requests a hard copy of the monthly report.”
Synonyms
04legal/formal rules
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the formal rules used in a court of law or a meeting.
n. the set of established forms or methods of an organized body, such as a court or parliament, for conducting its business.
“The judge ruled that the police did not follow proper legal procedure.”
“Parliamentary procedure dictates that the speaker must remain neutral during the opening debate.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “procedure” in context.
Adjective
01. actual procedure
“The manual explains the theory, but the actual procedure is much more hands-on.”
adj + noun
02. alternative procedure
“If the first method fails, we have an alternative procedure ready to implement.”
adj + noun
03. appropriate procedure
“Please ensure you follow the appropriate procedure for disposing of chemical waste.”
adj + noun
04. complex procedure
“Heart surgery is a complex procedure that requires a highly skilled team.”
adj + noun
05. complicated procedure
“Applying for a visa can be a complicated procedure involving many documents.”
adj + noun
06. democratic procedure
“The committee followed a democratic procedure to ensure everyone's voice was heard.”
adj + noun
07. efficient procedure
“We need to establish an efficient procedure to handle customer complaints quickly.”
adj + noun
08. entire procedure
“The entire procedure took less than thirty minutes from start to finish.”
adj + noun
09. formal procedure
“The company has a formal procedure for reporting workplace grievances.”
adj + noun
10. general procedure
“The handbook outlines the general procedure for all new employees.”
adj + noun
11. industrial procedure
“Strict safety standards must be met during every industrial procedure.”
adj + noun
12. internal procedure
“This is an internal procedure and does not affect our clients directly.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Hussain trained as a doctor before moving into cosmetic procedures, but penis fillers do not legally require any medical training to perform.” “The shots were for the second round of freezing her eggs, a medical procedure that can give women more time to have children.” “Last year, there were 2.54m animal testing procedures in Britain, down 3.8% on 2024.” Etymology
From French procédure, from Old French, from Latin procedere (“to go forward, proceed”); see proceed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/procedure