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
: 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
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Elsewhere on the ballot, a tax break for local businesses was on its way to passing in Tuesday’s earliest returns with 76% approval, while a procedural move by legislators to scale back the responsibilities of a pension review board was also coasting to victory with 72% of the vote.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 May 2026
Blue Bloods was canceled in 2023 after 14 seasons, but fans of the popular CBS crime procedural didn't have to wait long to see some of their favorite characters back onscreen.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 25 May 2026
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Adjective
Due to procedural rules in Congress, Democrats will have a small window to introduce amendments to the budget bill to try to officially end the fund.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Elsewhere on the ballot, a tax break for local businesses was on its way to passing in Tuesday’s earliest returns with 76% approval, while a procedural move by legislators to scale back the responsibilities of a pension review board was also coasting to victory with 72% of the vote.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Noun
The project, titled Welcome To Catalina, is in development at HBO Max under the streamer’s model for drama procedurals intended to return each year with sizable orders and moderate cost.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 May 2026
Blue Bloods was canceled in 2023 after 14 seasons, but fans of the popular CBS crime procedural didn't have to wait long to see some of their favorite characters back onscreen.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for procedural
Cite this Entry
“Procedural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procedural. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
National Law Journal
procedurally
adverb
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