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

But the initiative was quickly blocked in court on procedural grounds and later rescinded by the Biden administration. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025

It has most commonly been discussed as a procedural tactic to defuse the threat of a filibuster slowing down or blocking the majority party’s agenda. —Connor Greene, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

Noun

The show may have struggled with ratings because HBO Max released their own medical procedural, The Pitt, around the same time. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2025

Though that means the NBC medical procedural is losing one of its star players, the hope is that Barrett's leave will be a temporary one. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 Aug. 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