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• matter of course
  matter of course

  noun

  something that follows in logical, natural, or customary sequence or that is treated as such.
• matter-of-course
  matter-of-course

  adjective

  occurring or proceeding in or as if in the logical, natural, or customary course of things; expected or inevitable.

matter of course

¹ American  

noun

1. something that follows in logical, natural, or customary sequence or that is treated as such.

   After such reprisals, war followed as a matter of course.

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matter-of-course ² American  

[mat-er-uhv-kawrs, -kohrs] / ˈmæt ər əvˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs /

adjective

1. occurring or proceeding in or as if in the logical, natural, or customary course of things; expected or inevitable.

2. accepting things as occurring in their natural course, or characterized by an acceptance of things as such.

   to be matter-of-course in confronting the difficulties of existence.

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matter of course British  

noun

1. an event or result that is natural or inevitable

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adjective

1. (usually postpositive) occurring as a matter of course

2. accepting things as inevitable or natural

   a matter-of-course attitude

Etymology

Origin of matter of course¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Origin of matter-of-course²

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matter of course matter-of-course

This doesn’t mean that interest rates don’t matter, of course.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

For the first time in the 96-year history of the World Cup, matches have been interrupted around the 22nd and 67th minutes as a matter of course.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

As a practical matter, of course, that may be difficult, since anyone who will be named by a federal court or approved by the Senate may have too much integrity to pursue such baseless charges.

From Slate ● Nov. 24, 2025

It’s so rare because failure — by pitchers as well as batters — is expected as a matter of course.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2025

In those days, I believed that proficiency in English and success in business were the direct result of high academic achievements and I assumed as a matter of course that Sisulu was a university graduate.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Instead of being transfixed, Herbert replied in an easy matter-of-course way, “Exactly. Well?”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

“Convicts, sergeant?” asked Mr. Wopsle, in a matter-of-course way.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

This is the matter-of-course privilege of every other master; and if Congress does not possess it, its mastery is hampered without being denied.

From Congressional Government A Study in American Politics by Woodrow Wilson

In a matter-of-course way Bel offered a hand, and Lucinda touched it mechanically.

From Linda Lee, Incorporated A Novel by Louis Joseph Vance

It was as if he were mentioning some important but altogether matter-of-course part of a cowboy's daily business.

From The Red Mustang by William O. Stoddard