standing order

noun

1. Military. (formerly) a general order always in force in a command and establishing uniform procedures for it; standard operating procedure.
2. standing orders, Parliamentary Procedure. the rules ensuring continuity of procedure during the meetings of an assembly.

standing order

noun

1. Also calledbanker's order an instruction to a bank by a depositor to pay a stated sum at regular intervals Compare direct debit
2. a rule or order governing the procedure, conduct, etc, of a legislative body
3. military one of a number of orders which have or are likely to have long-term validity

Word History and Origins

Origin of standing order¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Idioms and Phrases

A regulation that is in force until it is specifically changed or withdrawn, as in The waiters have standing orders to fill all glasses as they are emptied . This idiom began life in the mid-1600s as standing rule ; the word order began to be used about 1800 for such military orders and gradually was extended to other areas.

Example Sentences

Those documents are still being analysed but the campaign says they show there were standing orders for repeated blood and urine tests of military personnel and Indigenous communities at the test sites.

From BBC

It says direct debits and standing orders are working normally.

From BBC

His group tried to get the FDA to approve a shortcut similar to the standing orders that enable pharmacists to deliver anti-influenza medications when there are flu outbreaks in nursing homes, Worz said.

From Salon

They want one under what is known as standing order 24.

From BBC

The Legislature can make this kind of progress possible by authorizing the secretary of health to issue a statewide standing order to permit this treatment.

From Seattle Times