police procedural

noun

1. a mystery novel, film, or television drama that deals realistically with police work.

police procedural

noun

1. a novel, film, or television drama that deals realistically with police work

Word History and Origins

Origin of police procedural¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

It’s a police procedural, a metaphorical family comedy, a workplace comedy, a soap opera, a melodrama, a low-budget action adventure.

From Los Angeles Times

The series is equal parts police procedural and biting feminist commentary.

From Los Angeles Times

“Interior Chinatown” follows the story of Willis Wu, an actor who is stuck playing background characters on a police procedural called “Black & White” while dreaming of bigger things — like getting to play “Kung Fu Guy” instead of “Generic Asian Man.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the surreal “Interior Chinatown,” which Yang aptly describes as “‘The Twilight Zone’ meets ‘Law & Order,’” Yang stars as Willis Wu, a waiter at a seedy Chinese restaurant that doubles as the perpetual filming location for a police procedural called “Black & White.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Fight Night” flirts with a variety of styles — blaxploitation, police procedural, social drama, the buddy-cop movie — which are successful on their own terms but don’t easily cohere.

From Los Angeles Times