procedural

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​ce·​dur·​al prə-ˈsē-jə-rəl How to pronounce procedural (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The rezoning would be another procedural step toward bringing the stadium and the broader mixed-use development to life. — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 Acceptance tests play a central role in this approach, not as a procedural checkbox and not as something added after the fact. — Boris Berat, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
The show has turned into a case-of-the-season procedural with the alien stuff humming in the background as the overarching mythology. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2026 Hargitay, 62, has earned eight Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s long-running crime procedural, which premiered in 1999. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for procedural

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1876, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of procedural was in 1876

Phrases Containing procedural

Browse Nearby Words

Procaviidae
procedural
procedural due process
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Procedural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procedural. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

procedural

adjective
pro·​ce·​dur·​al prə-ˈsēj-(ə-)rəl How to pronounce procedural (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce procedural (audio)
: of or relating to procedure
sentence reversed as result of procedural error in sentencing—National Law Journal
compare substantive
procedurally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on procedural

Nglish: Translation of procedural for Spanish Speakers

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