protocol
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the official rules for how people should behave at formal events or in government.
the system of rules and conventions governing correct etiquette and precedence between diplomatic representatives and heads of state.
Simple“According to royal protocol, you must wait for the Queen to speak first.”
In context“The visiting dignitaries were careful to observe every nuance of diplomatic protocol to avoid any perceived slight during the summit.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a detailed plan or set of steps for a scientific experiment or medical treatment.
a formalised set of procedures to be followed in a clinical trial, medical treatment, or scientific experiment.
Simple“The hospital has a strict protocol for cleaning surgical tools.”
In context“The research team strictly adhered to the experimental protocol to ensure that the results could be accurately replicated by other laboratories.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a set of rules that computers use to talk to each other and send information.
a standardised set of rules governing the format and transmission of data between devices in a network.
Simple“HTTP is the protocol used for transferring data on the web.”
In context“The software update failed because the legacy hardware was incompatible with the new security protocol implemented by the server.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a formal document that records an agreement between countries.
an official record of a diplomatic negotiation or an amendment to an international treaty.
Simple“The two nations signed a new protocol to protect the environment.”
In context“The Kyoto Protocol established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Her Prevent case was closed while she was investigated by MI5, as is protocol at such a time.”
“Until those protocols are developed, the default will often be to treat a standing wall as debris rather than a valuable building block for the future.”
Borrowed from Middle French protocolle, protocole (“document, record”), from Late Latin protocollum (“the first sheet of a volume (on which contents and errata were written)”), from Byzantine Greek πρωτόκολλον (prōtókollon, “first sheet glued onto a manuscript”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + κόλλα (kólla, “glue”). Doublet of collage, collagen, and colloid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.