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
Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
The move came in a lawsuit alleging procedural errors by DEEP regarding the type of hearing that was scheduled this week for opponents to raise concerns about the project.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Jan. 2026
Over the years, the procedural has said goodbye to fan-favorite cast members like Richard Belzer and Christopher Meloni.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for procedural
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Adjective
Earlier on Thursday, five Senate Republicans bucked the president and joined Democrats on a procedural vote that could rein in his ability to take military action in Venezuela.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
The move came in a lawsuit alleging procedural errors by DEEP regarding the type of hearing that was scheduled this week for opponents to raise concerns about the project.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Directed by Philip Barantini, the brilliant slow-burn investigative procedural — about the violent death of a 13-year-old girl in an English suburb — gained a global reputation for its moving acting performances and extraordinary approach to one-shot cinematography.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Jan. 2026
Over the years, the procedural has said goodbye to fan-favorite cast members like Richard Belzer and Christopher Meloni.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 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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