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 order marks an important procedural step toward finalizing the TikTok sale, but the deal is not yet complete. —Samantha Waldenberg, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025

Senate rules require 60 affirmative votes on a procedural motion to end debate on the underlying bill in order to proceed to a vote on the funding bill itself. —Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025

Noun

Yes, the procedural is kicking off the season with one of the show's reliable leads as one of its victims. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025

Launching a medical procedural with serialized elements, including a romance, has been a big priority there. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Sep. 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