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 state agency sought to dismiss the legal claim on procedural grounds, but now the suit is scheduled to play out this fall. —Kevin Fixler september 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025

While city councilmembers engaged in little discussion during this week’s vote — a procedural step towards final approval of the ordinance, many noted their reasons for support at a meeting earlier this month. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

Noun

Launching a medical procedural with serialized elements, including a romance, has been a big priority there. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025

The action procedural was canceled after season 6, renewed for a seventh and final season, and then saved from cancellation again with a season 8 order, after which it was definitively canceled. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 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