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

From migration laws to the EU’s support for Ukraine, Orbán has repeatedly used procedural delays and the power of veto to derail key agreements. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026

But Thune has reiterated that even with this procedural shift, the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2026

Noun

At a glance, River could pass for another British murder-of-the-week procedural. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026

Running procedurals for two shows set in a working-class, rural community has its challenges. —Mark Kennedy, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026

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