Home › Emergency Services & Public Safety › 911 Dispatch & Emergency Communications › protocol

protocol

PROH-tuh-kawl /ˈproʊtəkɑːl/

nounB2TOEFLIELTS

formaltechnical

An official system of rules, procedures, or instructions governing conduct or operations.

Carries strict binding authority; departing from protocol in emergency operations requires explicit justification.

The story behind the word. Protocol traces back to Greek prōtokollon, meaning the 'first glued sheet' of a papyrus roll that bore the official record of date and authorship. It evolved through Medieval Latin into French and English as a term for official legal records, diplomatic etiquette, and operational procedures.

Word relationships

procedure: Procedure is a series of steps; protocol is an established, authoritative system of rules.
regimen: Regimen usually refers to medical or physical training routines.

improvisation: Improvisation involves acting without pre-established rules or procedures.

Commonly confused with

prototype: A prototype is an early model or sample of a product; a protocol is a set of rules.

Word family

protocolized (adjective): Standardized into a set protocol.
protocoldriven (adjective): Guided strictly by established protocol rules.

Collocations

standard protocol
follow protocol
safety protocol
emergency protocol

Idioms & expressions

by the book

Example sentences

"Following standard protocol, the operator asked a series of pre-scripted medical questions." Standard operating procedures
"A strict security protocol dictates how sensitive caller information is stored and shared." Communications guidelines

Memory hook

PROTO-COL: Glued (kolla) to the first (protos) rules of procedure. Glued to official rules.

When not to use

Do not use to describe informal habits or personal routines.

Fun facts

In computer networking, protocols like TCP/IP fulfill the exact same role as emergency protocols: ensuring orderly, standardized communication.