1
as in rules
an accepted way of conducting oneself in a given situation
Their behavior was considered a breach of diplomatic protocol.
Related Words
Relevance
2
as in procedures
a preestablished method of carrying out a task and especially a scientific or medical task
The school developed a protocol for the treatment of concussions on the sports field.
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of protocols
The institutional layer is made of governance policies, audit logs, and escalation protocols.
—
Ricardo Tavares,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The family's funeral service for Lungu in South Africa last June was interrupted when the Zambian government filed an urgent court case arguing the country's customs and protocols required he be buried at the national cemetery at home.
—
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Carriage drivers spent days going over safety rules and protocols in response to the death of Romanch Mahajan, who was fatally injured on a ride through the park with his family.
—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The remedy also includes additional operational protocols.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
The lawsuit alleges Lineage has a history of incidents that should have compelled the company to adopt stronger safety protocols.
—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Elite performers, however, obsess over their conditioning — the daily habits, mindset shifts, emotional regulation, recovery protocols, and unglamorous disciplines that happen when no one is watching.
—
Melissa Dawn Simkins,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
During the pandemic, Lowe, the father of two boys, wrestled with establishing safety measures at Benjamin, and he was struck by the arbitrariness of many health protocols.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Community members had begun raising concerns about the lack of a public space and playground in the neighborhood, especially at a time when they were being encouraged to seek outdoor activities due to lockdown protocols, Nakahodo said.
—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Ricardo Tavares,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The family's funeral service for Lungu in South Africa last June was interrupted when the Zambian government filed an urgent court case arguing the country's customs and protocols required he be buried at the national cemetery at home.
—
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Carriage drivers spent days going over safety rules and protocols in response to the death of Romanch Mahajan, who was fatally injured on a ride through the park with his family.
—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The remedy also includes additional operational protocols.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
The lawsuit alleges Lineage has a history of incidents that should have compelled the company to adopt stronger safety protocols.
—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Elite performers, however, obsess over their conditioning — the daily habits, mindset shifts, emotional regulation, recovery protocols, and unglamorous disciplines that happen when no one is watching.
—
Melissa Dawn Simkins,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
During the pandemic, Lowe, the father of two boys, wrestled with establishing safety measures at Benjamin, and he was struck by the arbitrariness of many health protocols.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Community members had begun raising concerns about the lack of a public space and playground in the neighborhood, especially at a time when they were being encouraged to seek outdoor activities due to lockdown protocols, Nakahodo said.
—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protocols
Noun
-
The lack of information generally is a big issue for blind travelers as well, along with airline and airport employees not understanding the rules that govern accommodations for blind passengers.
-
Jessop, the Leave-supporting economist, believes the UK should make better use of its freedom from EU rules to cut red tape and lower trade barriers with the rest of the world.
Noun
-
Police say a man, who was a passenger in the sedan, was quickly extricated from the vehicle and received intensive advanced life-saving procedures by paramedics on site.
-
Owing to several conditions—new vetting procedures, ICE arrests of sponsors going through that vetting, and lack of access to lawyers (waitlists for pro-bono counsel are in the thousands)—a child’s average length of detention jumped to four months in 2025, up from just one month the year before.
Noun
-
Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.
-
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.
Noun
-
Jacques Solovière Paris For spring 2027, Jacques Solovière Paris, founded in 2014 by designer Alexia Aubert, introduced new signature silhouettes, advanced construction techniques and high-quality leathers.
-
Some are incorporating innovative finishes and maturation techniques.
Noun
-
That expectation is reflected in our training, policies, and specific guidance on encounters with dogs.
-
The program is not so different to some policies already pursued by the current Labour government.
Noun
-
And given that such systems are physically possible, powerful economic and strategic incentives exist for technologists and entrepreneurs to build them.
-
Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.
Cite this Entry
“Protocols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protocols. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
