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 vote is the first procedural hurdle the state needed to clear to lead off the Democratic nominating calendar in 2028. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2026

MacInnes is also reported to have raised procedural-fairness arguments, claiming that Raper made certain factual findings without giving her an adequate opportunity to address them during the trial. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 July 2026

Noun

When the actor first joined the procedural, it was initially planned to be a one-season arc. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026

The show has turned into a case-of-the-season procedural with the alien stuff humming in the background as the overarching mythology. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 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