Work and business / B2

pr-uh-SEEJ-uh/prəˈsiːdʒə/

A procedure is the official or usual way of doing something: follow the procedure, a complaints procedure, a medical procedure (an operation). Process is wider and can be natural; method is how you choose to do a task; rule is one instruction. In speech, the official way / an operation covers the two common senses. Do not skip the article when you mean one operation (a procedure), and do not confuse it with proceed (the verb to continue).

Meaning

The official or usual way of doing something, especially in an organisation.

Examples

• “Follow the fire procedure and do not use the lift.”
• “Follow the evacuation procedure; do not invent a shortcut.”
• “She is having a minor procedure on Friday, which is the medical sense.”

Good to know

follow / a complaints procedure. Wider: process. One instruction: rule. Medical: a procedure = an operation. Mix-up: proceed (verb).

Near in meaning

process

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