procedural

[ pruh-see-jer-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a procedure or procedures, especially of a court of law, legislative body, or law enforcement agency.

noun

1. police procedural.

Other Words From

• pro·cedur·al·ly adverb
• nonpro·cedur·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of procedural¹

First recorded in 1885–90; procedure + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson are the creators of the BBC series “Blue Lights,” a procedural that follows a trio of recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

From Los Angeles Times

While the decision was procedural, it cleared the way for same-sex couples to marry in California.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2023, “CoComelon” ranked fifth on Nielsen’s list of top 10 overall streaming programs, bested only by the legal drama “Suits,” the Australian animated series “Bluey,” the long-running procedural “NCIS” and the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lloyd’s “Sunset Blvd.,” by contrast, blasts away with impunity to create a vastly different experience — a kinetic multimedia concert, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s lyrics are freed from the procedural nature of Black and Hampton’s book.

From Los Angeles Times

Obama adhered more closely to restraints on presidential power, but did not make the kinds of structural and procedural changes necessary to deter future presidents from following in the footsteps of the Bush administration.

From Salon