procedural

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​ce·​dur·​al prə-ˈsē-jə-rəl 

-ˈsēj-rəl

: of or relating to procedure

especially : of or relating to the procedure used by courts or other bodies administering substantive law

procedurally adverb

procedural

2 of 2

noun

: a realist crime novel, film, or television drama with a specific focus

a courtroom procedural

especially : police procedural

Examples of procedural in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Zoom in: The filibuster is a procedural rule that forces the Senate to have 60 votes to advance most legislation. —Justin Green, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025

What To Know Nine Democrats and one independent joined Republicans to surpass the 60-vote threshold in the procedural vote, with the measure advancing by a 62-38 vote. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025

Noun

But the result is something closer to a generic procedural than the show that originally broke out on the USA Network. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 23 Feb. 2025

The medical procedural is fine, bland and perfectly standard CBS. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1876, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing procedural

• police procedural
• procedural due process
• procedural face mask
• procedural mask

Medical Definition

procedural

adjective

pro·​ce·​dur·​al prə-ˈsēj-(ə-)rəl 

: relating to or comprising memory or knowledge concerned with how to manipulate symbols, concepts, and rules to accomplish a task or solve a problem compare declarative

Legal Definition

procedural

adjective

pro·​ce·​dur·​al prə-ˈsē-jə-rəl 

: of or relating to procedure

sentence reversed as result of procedural error in sentencing

—National Law Journal

compare substantive

procedurally adverb