Meaning & use
procedures
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“procedures” is a form of “procedure”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Fixed series of steps that people follow in order to carry out a task correctly.
Grammar: Plural form; the singular 'procedure' names one set of steps: safety procedures, but one safety procedure.
Patterns
- follow procedures
- safety/emergency procedures
- procedures for something
All staff must follow safety procedures when operating the machinery.
We have clear procedures for dealing with customer complaints.
The accident happened because the normal procedures were ignored.
nounplural
Official or agreed ways of doing things in law, government, or organizations.
Grammar: Stays plural for systems of rules; often modified by legal, parliamentary, or disciplinary.
Patterns
- legal/parliamentary/disciplinary procedures
- correct/proper procedures
The committee voted to change its voting procedures.
She was dismissed without proper disciplinary procedures being followed.
Parliamentary procedures slowed the debate to a crawl.
nounpluralmedical
Medical operations or treatments carried out by a doctor.
Grammar: Plural of the countable sense 'a procedure'; often with surgical, routine, or minor.
Patterns
- surgical procedures
- routine/minor procedures
- undergo a procedure
Thousands of these surgical procedures are carried out every year.
Minor procedures can often be done in the doctor's own office.
Word forms
| singular | procedure |
|---|
Common combinations
- follow (the correct) procedures
- The pilot followed emergency procedures and landed the plane safely.
- safety procedures
- New employees spend their first day learning safety procedures.
- emergency procedures
- Fire drills help everyone remember the emergency procedures.
- standard operating procedures
- The laboratory updates its standard operating procedures every year.
- surgical procedures
- Modern surgical procedures are far less painful than in the past.
Synonyms and how they differ
- process
- A process is a series of natural events or gradual changes, such as ageing or learning; procedures are deliberate, fixed steps chosen by people.
- protocol
- A protocol is a strict, formal set of rules, often official, diplomatic, or technical, whereas procedures are practical working steps.
- routine
- A routine is a regular, personal way of doing things, usually informal and flexible, unlike official procedures.
Word family
- procedure noun
- The singular form: one set of established steps.
- procedural adjective
- Concerning the agreed methods or formal steps of an activity.
- proceed verb
- To continue or go forward with an action.
- proceeding noun
- An event or step, or a legal action; often plural 'proceedings'.
Commonly confused: procedures or proceedings?
procedures vs proceedings
Procedures are fixed working steps; proceedings are the events of a meeting, a competition, or a court case ('legal proceedings').
Practice
Airline crew must follow strict safety ___ before every takeoff.
Choose one answer.
Procedures are fixed, official steps, which is exactly what safety rules are. Processions are people marching in a line, prospects are chances of future success, and professions are jobs — none fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “procedures”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.