noun · verb · 18 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈpɹəʊtəˌkɒl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈpɹoʊtəˌkɑl/
General-American:/ˈpɹoʊtəˌkɔl/
General-American:/ˈpɹoʊtəˌkoʊl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˈpɹəʉtəˌkoːl/
Australian:/ˈpɹəʉtəˌkɔl/
CMU ARPABET:P R OW1 T AH0 K AA2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R OW1 T AH0 K AO2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The minutes, or official record, of a negotiation or transaction; especially a document drawn up officially which forms the legal basis for subsequent agreements based on it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, historical, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An official record of a diplomatic meeting or negotiation; later specifically, a draft document setting out agreements to be signed into force by a subsequent formal treaty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
Qualifier: international law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An amendment to an official treaty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: international law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The first leaf of a roll of papyrus, or the official mark typically found on such a page.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The official formulas which appeared at the beginning or end of certain official documents such as charters, papal bulls etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The original notes of observations made during an experiment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
The precise method for carrying out or reproducing a given experiment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
The official rules and guidelines for heads of state and other dignitaries, governing accepted behaviour in relations with other diplomatic representatives or over affairs of state.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
An accepted code of conduct; acceptable behaviour in a given situation or group.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A set of formal rules describing how to transmit or exchange data, especially across a network.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
In some programming languages, a data type declaring a set of members that must be implemented by a class or other data type.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: object-oriented programming
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
verb
Meaning 14
To make a protocol of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To make or write protocols, or first drafts; to issue protocols.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
code of correct conduct
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
safety protocols
academic protocol
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: code of conduct, code of behavior
17
noun
Meaning 17
forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: etiquette
18
noun
Meaning 18
(computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: communications protocol
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rule, prescript
Narrower terms: file transfer protocol, FTP, hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP, musical instrument digital interface, MIDI, transmission control protocol, TCP, transmission control protocol/internet protocol, TCP/IP
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French protocolle, protocole (“document, record”), from Late Latin protocollum (“the first sheet of a volume (on which contents and errata were written)”), from Byzantine Greek πρωτόκολλον (prōtókollon, “first sheet glued onto a manuscript”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + κόλλα (kólla, “glue”).
Across languages
Translations
120 source translations are retained for this English entry.