standard procedure
- noun
- /ˈstændərd prəˈsidʒər/
- It is standard procedure to verify a patient's identity before treatment.
- follow the standard procedure
- use the standard procedure
- according to standard procedure
Examples
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In order to minimize these errors, standard procedures for recording these measurements should be used that are internationally recognized.
Academic text (2007) -
It's standard procedure to check the premises.
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Remember, it is standard procedure before seeing a doctor.
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- They said it was standard procedure.
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This is just a standard procedure.
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This is just standard procedure.
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You know the standard procedure.
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We do this all the time, and writers know it's standard procedure.
Fiction book (1997) -
Our standard procedure is to call a new patient John or Jane Doe if their real names aren't known.
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Periodic polygraph assessment for embassy staff is a standard procedure that can be expedited for security purposes.
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
A set of formal rules for official ceremonies and diplomatic events
A list of steps to use a machine or to deal with a specific situation safely
A set of steps people follow the same way every time to do a task safely and correctly
A set of steps people regularly follow at work
A regular set of steps people in an organization must follow
How Routine
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a prescribed or established way of doing something' is directly and compositionally derived from 'standard' (an accepted rule or level) combined with 'procedure' (ordered steps). This noun-noun combination follows a predictable compounding pattern found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase standard procedure comes from places like factories and offices where everyone follows the same written steps to do a task. Think of standard as the agreed rule and procedure as the list of steps. That's why it means 'a usual or agreed way of doing something'.