point of order
8
6.3
- noun
- /pɔɪnt əv ˈɔrdər/
- Formal
:
punto de orden
- During the meeting, the senator raised a point of order to challenge the procedure followed by the committee.
- raise a point of order
- make a point of order
Examples
-
Mr. Chairman, I humbly request a point of order.
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The Moderator will rule on the point of order, and debate on the current motion will continue.
Blog text (13) -
Gentlemen, this is a point of order.
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There are several points of order today.
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Mr President, a point of order.
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Mr. Chairman, point of order.
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First, a senator would raise a point of order to close debate.
Academic text (2004) -
Well, I thank the right honourable member for that point of order and for giving me notice of it.
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The Presiding Officer could rule in favor of the point of order, and a majority could table any appeal from his ruling.
Academic text (2004) -
Further, making points of order against the amendments would not save time or avert these filibusters by roll call.
Academic text (2004)
Surface Forms
Morphology
Knowing 'point' (an issue) and 'order' (a state of rules/discipline) allows a learner to infer that this is an issue concerning rules, so the basic idea is partly derivable from the parts. However, the specific procedural use — a formal interjection to flag a rules breach in meetings — is a specialized, discourse-bound meaning that a B1 learner would likely not predict without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Point of order comes from formal meetings where someone literally makes a point about order by pointing out a broken rule. So, it now means 'to speak up in a meeting to say the rules are not being followed'.