standing order

noun

: an instruction or prescribed procedure in force permanently or until changed or canceled

especially : any of the rules for the guidance and government of parliamentary procedure which endure through successive sessions until vacated or repealed

Examples of standing order in a Sentence

She placed a standing order for fresh flowers every week.

They were on standing orders never to leave the prisoner unattended.

Recent Examples on the Web

Former President Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans so much that the White House maintained a standing order of 720 bags per month during his presidency — roughly 306,070 individual beans. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026

The White House had to set up a standing order for 720 bags a month — around 306,070 beans. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026

Iran’s foreign minister suggested its strikes are conducted by forces operating on standing orders from the late Ayatollah — an explanation that is not satisfying regional capitals. —Tareq Alotaiba, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026

But of course, the Danish soldiers in Greenland have a standing order to defend the territory against any aggression. —Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for standing order

• boarder
• border
• corder
• warder
• camcorder
• disorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder