noun · academic

protocol

UK/ˈprəʊtəkɒl/US/ˈproʊtəkɑːl/PRO·to·col

Band 7+task1task2speaking

a set of rules or formal procedures to be followed in a scientific or official situation

Examples

Before the experiment began, the team agreed on a strict protocol.

Diplomats followed the established protocol during the state visit.

If you report a problem in a lab, there is a protocol to ensure safety.

Band 8 sentence

Following an internationally recognised protocol enhanced the study's credibility and allowed other teams to replicate the results.

Collocations

  • establish a protocol
  • follow a protocol
  • protocol for

Word family

protocols noun (plural)

Common mistakes

use 'procedure' and 'protocol' interchangeably every timeprotocol

There is a protocol how to report incidents.There is a protocol for how to report incidents.

Say it for a higher band

5procedure6guideline7+protocol

Synonyms

procedure

guideline

Easily confused

procedure

The lab procedure describes each step, while the protocol ensures compliance with safety standards.

Related words

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In Sublist 8

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