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 procedural dispute centers on a requirement to distribute amendment text to circuit court clerks for public posting, which lawmakers retroactively repealed. — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026 Farrell also raised broader procedural concerns during the arguments, noting the potential for conflicting legal rulings if challenges proceed piecemeal across jurisdictions. — Kelsie Cairns , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
Transplant, which ran for four seasons, was a medical procedural about a Syrian refugee working as a doctor in a Toronto trauma unit. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 After the 14-year-old actor, who plays Morgan’s (Olson) son Elliot on the ABC crime procedural, announced this week in a heartfelt statement that his mother Meredith died, his co-stars paid their respects in the comments section. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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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
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