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 more than just a topical procedural thriller, the film also plays out like a Kafka novel about endless invasions of privacy and assumptions of malicious intent that converge to form a modern nightmare. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025

Under the current system, the council’s discretion to overturn such decisions is limited to when there has been a procedural error — not disagreements about historic value. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025

Noun

Shiki is a stylish investigative horror series, a neo-noir procedural filtered through the lens of contemporary anime. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025

High Potential paid tribute to Nicolas Jean during the closing credits of the ABC procedural. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Oct. 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