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

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

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

Unlike the PET file, Downing Street would not receive the results of such a process as a matter of course, even in an extremely high-profile appointment.

From BBC • Sep. 13, 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

The fact that I took it as a matter of course did not alter that any.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway