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

To get them all passed on time, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. is racing against GOP senators who are trying to drag out the process by forcing time-consuming votes on typically routine procedural steps.

From Salon

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

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

But, one by one, procedural and legal challenges assured that those cases against Trump would not be tried until after the election.

From Los Angeles Times

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in a separate statement, said the Pennsylvania ruling was “controversial” and questionable, but there were procedural reasons for not ruling on the matter now.

From Los Angeles Times

More About Procedural

What does procedural mean?

Procedural is used to describe things that involve a specific procedure—a particular way of doing something, especially one that is usually repeated in the same way each time.

The word procedural is especially used in the context of formal, official procedures, such as those used in government and law. A procedural vote is typically one that is simply part of the process to move forward to a full and final vote on a matter. A procedural agreement is a kind of contract that governs how a collective bargaining process will be carried out.

Procedural can also be used as a noun to refer to a procedural drama—work of fiction, especially a TV show, that realistically portrays a kind of professional work. A common type of procedural is a police procedural. The popular show Law & Order is a procedural.

Example: This meeting is solely to deal with procedural matters—the debate on the actual issues will come later.

Where does procedural come from?

The first records of the word procedural come from the late 1800s. Its base word, procedure, comes from the French term procédure, which has the same meaning. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb prōcēdere, which means “to advance” and is also the basis of the verb proceed. The suffix -al is used to form adjectives.

A procedure is a way of proceeding—a way of taking action or completing a task—and procedural is used to describe things that follow procedures or that otherwise involve procedures. The word is typically used in the context of things done as part of a specific series of steps required to complete a process, such as a government vote or a legal proceeding.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to procedural?

• procedurally (adverb)
• procedure (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with procedural?

• procedural agreement
• police procedural
• proceed

What are some words that often get used in discussing procedural?

• protocol
• rules
• vote
• change
• measure
• matter
• action
• process
• routine
• drama
• police
• legal

How is procedural used in real life?

The word procedural often describes things that are done as part of a very specific plan or set of rules. For that reason, it’s often used in serious contexts.

Far too many procedural, ceremonial steps are needed to finalize the Presidential election. I propose a 3 step process:

1) Vote
2) Count Votes
3) Done

— Ron Shillman (@shillman1) January 1, 2021

I think it's worth noting the chair of the county council is not some all powerful legislative wizard. If they lack three other votes, they don't have power to pass anything engendering controversy. They can assign bills to be heard at committee and other procedural matters.

— Jason Rosenbaum (@jrosenbaum) January 5, 2021

GOP senator's support means #ENDA now has 60 votes needed to clear procedural hurdles in Senate http://t.co/m1tOjqUgwE

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 4, 2013

 

 

Try using procedural!

Is procedural used correctly in the following sentence? 

I’m a big fan of procedurals—I like to see how things work behind the scenes.