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
Recent incidents involving dating violence have highlighted the importance of safety and privacy protocols when making dating profiles and pursuing romantic relationships, both online and in person.
—
Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The county has worked for months with UCSD and Scripps researchers to absorb the protocols created by local researchers, gradually fine-tuning models so that the data that the county’s process creates matches with what has already been collected and published by the research effort.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Missouri Department of Corrections ignored the court’s advice and has not updated its execution protocols, which were last adopted in 2013.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
Here's a look at some of the protocols in place for the coaching searches.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
Though five Caribbean countries have CBI protocols, only Antigua and Dominica were included in the partial travel ban, which includes 13 other countries, mainly in Africa.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Here’s a look at some of the protocols in place for the coaching searches.
—Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Butte County Sheriff’s Office coroner’s unit is conducting an investigation into the cause of death, per standard protocols.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.
—JSTOR Daily, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protocols
Noun
-
So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
-
Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck, a witness called by Democrats, said the nondisclosure process followed then-existing DOJ guidelines and that Congress only revised notification rules after a 2024 inspector general report.—
Noun
-
But the jury in the federal civil lawsuit found that Moore violated Gillispie's rights by hiding evidence that would have helped Gillispie's defense and creating unfair lineup procedures for the victims.—
-
Drug policies and procedures are continuing to be adjusted to changing conditions, like in November when new sentencing guidelines took effect.—
Noun
-
The team used vacuum or micro-injection techniques The team with LLNL’s Nuclear and Chemical Sciences (NACS) Division, developed the radiochemical techniques to purify target material.—
-
This short film blends traditional animation with abstract expressionism using innovative video-to-video techniques.—
Noun
-
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.—
-
Leonora measures out her days in courtesies and slights, the former dominating the beginning of the book, the latter rapidly gaining ground.—
Noun
-
In 1991, the government dismantled the protectionist economic policies of its socialist past, cracking open the nation to the world.—
-
These policies aren’t about forbidding all office liaisons but protecting both parties and the broader team from the professional fallout.—
Noun
-
Weiser, who is running for governor in this year’s election, characterized the attacks as Trump trying to leverage the power of the executive branch to exercise unconstitutional authority over how individual states conduct elections and oversee their criminal justice systems.—
-
Modern apartments have all the latest fire protection systems, such as sprinklers.—
Cite this Entry
“Protocols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protocols. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share