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

The legislation, shelved by the GOP on a procedural vote, was intended to reduce border crossings. —Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2024

What other category can put Oscar-winning director William Friedkin’s last film up against the feature-length continuation of the model blue sky-era USA Network procedural? —Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 June 2024

Noun

The high-concept crime procedural hails from JJ Bailey, The Endgame co-creator Jake Coburn and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 June 2024

On June 10, Silva, 29, and Rubinstein, 30 — who play police officer Carlos Reyes and paramedic T.K. Strand in the Fox procedural — both shared posts to their Instagram Stories reassuring fans that nothing is set in stone. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024

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