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 measure, which faced opposition from Democrats and a few Republicans, passed after Vice President JD Vance cast two tie-breaking procedural votes. —Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025

The effect is to launder panic through respectability—to make propaganda look procedural. —Alexis Coe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Noun

But getting it onto a CBS schedule already stocked with plenty of successful procedurals is the true challenge. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025

That is truly a straight down the middle procedural, but the writing, the acting are also really great. —Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 9 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