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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matter of course matter-of-course

Democracies do this as a matter of course, and we can, too, even if we modify these lessons, and learn from their shortcomings, for our own particular contexts.

From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

When governments and their advisers are, as matter of course, using AI to improve their decision-making, expect fewer purblind, tunnel-visioned strategic decisions based on wishful thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

Strictly producers have a back-up plan in place if needed, but a spokesman for the programme tells us they do that every year as a matter of course.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 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

Years after the killing of grouse on the wing has become a matter-of-course occurrence in his days of upland shooting, the memory of this stands clearest and best.

From In New England Fields and Woods by Rowland E. (Evans) Robinson

It seemed natural and matter-of-course for her to read my thoughts.

From I Walked in Arden by Jack Crawford

As with Love, so with Fatherhood, we take it as matter-of-course that this sprang and has evolved to present developments directly out of natural instinct.

From Feminism and Sex-Extinction by Arabella Kenealy

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