protocol
noun
pro·to·col
| \ ˈprō-tə-ˌkȯl
, -ˌkōl, -ˌkäl, -kəl\
, -ˌkōl, -ˌkäl, -kəl\
Definition of protocol
1
: an original draft, minute, or record of a document or transaction
2a
: a preliminary memorandum often formulated and signed by diplomatic negotiators as a basis for a final convention or treaty
b
: the records or minutes of a diplomatic conference or congress that show officially the agreements arrived at by the negotiators
3a
: a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence (as in diplomatic exchange and in the military services)
a breach of protocol
b
: a set of conventions governing the treatment and especially the formatting of data in an electronic communications system
network protocols
4
: a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure
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Examples of protocol in a Sentence
Typically, those who make pronouncements like this assume (without saying so) that the tongues making up the multitude will belong to persons who are committed to the protocols of rational inquiry; frivolous persons, persons who exploit those protocols or play with them to gain political ends, are not imagined.
— Stanley Fish, Harper's, December 2005
Purcell even flouted the timeless protocol of pretending to admire the work of his fellow editors.
— Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
Today, thanks to the civil-rights movement, white guilt is propriety—an utterly invisible code that defines decency in our culture with thousands of little protocols we no longer even think about.
— Shelby Steele, Harper's, November 2002
The soldier's actions constitute a breach of military protocol.
They did not follow the proper diplomatic protocols.
What is the proper protocol for declining a job offer?
the Geneva Protocol of 1925
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Recent Examples on the Web
Some risk-averse employers are planning to fire their undocumented workers or adopt more stringent hiring protocols, like using the federal E-Verify program to check new hires’ documents. — David Yaffe-bellany, New York Times, "Hiring Is Very Hard for Restaurants These Days. Now They May Have to Fire.," 23 Aug. 2019 Different centers use different protocols, making comparisons difficult. — Michele Cohen Marill, WIRED, "Why a Promising, Potent Cancer Therapy Isn't Used in the US," 21 Aug. 2019 The protocol, which has already been signed and ratified by a hundred and forty-six nations, allows more intrusive international inspections—on both declared and undeclared nuclear sites in member states—in perpetuity. — Robin Wright, The New Yorker, "Iran’s Foreign Minister Invited to Meet Trump in the Oval Office," 2 Aug. 2019 Attorney General William Barr on Thursday ordered the Bureau of Prisons to adopt an updated execution protocol, clearing the way for five death row inmates to be put to death. — Dakin Andone, CNN, "These 5 inmates will be executed after AG William Barr told the federal government to reinstate the death penalty," 25 July 2019 Often, a computer program leverages voice over internet protocol (VOIP) to quickly and cheaply call you. — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, "How to Stop Spam Robocalls From Clogging up Your Phone," 11 June 2019 Carriers are vague on call-blocking plans The FCC today also started the process of requiring carriers to implement the SHAKEN and STIR protocols, which use digital certificates to verify that Caller ID numbers aren't being spoofed. — Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, "Phone companies can block robocalls by default starting today, FCC says," 6 June 2019 Hers was perhaps not the most organized protocol, and, sure, a lot of people don't want to have to send their friends effective invoices for three months. — Glamour, "Here's How to Make the Absolute Most Out of Your Credit Card Points," 19 Apr. 2019 National anthem protocol has been an ongoing issue in the NFL, reaching a fever pitch after President Donald Trump, at a rally in September 2017, called for NFL owners to fire players who didn't stand for the anthem. — NBC News, "Colin Kaepernick video aims to remind NFL: He's still ready to play football," 8 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protocol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for protocol
protocol
noun
English Language Learners Definition of protocol
: a system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations
: a plan for a scientific experiment or for medical treatment
formal
: a document that describes the details of a treaty or formal agreement between countries
See the full definition for protocol in the English Language Learners Dictionary
protocol
noun
pro·to·col
| \ ˈprōt-ə-ˌkȯl, -ˌkōl, -ˌkäl
\
\
Medical Definition of protocol
1
: an official account of a proceeding
especially
: the notes or records relating to a case, an experiment, or an autopsy
2
: a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure
cryotherapy was performed in approximately half of the eyes through a randomization protocol — Journal of the American Medical Association
protocol
noun
pro·to·col
| \ ˈprō-tə-ˌkȯl
\
\
Legal Definition of protocol
1
: an original draft, minute, or record of a document or transaction
2a
: a preliminary memorandum often formulated and signed by diplomatic negotiators as a basis for a final convention or treaty
b
: the records or minutes of a diplomatic conference or congress that show officially the agreements arrived at by the negotiators
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