English Reference
adjective · noun

procedural

adj. · n.
US /pɹəˈsidʒɝəɫ/ UK /pɹəsˈiːdʒəɹəl/ pro·ce·dur·al UK spelling procedurals

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate AcademicFormal Law

    adj.relating to the official way of doing something, especially in law or government.

    adj.relating to an established or official way of conducting business, particularly in legal, administrative, or parliamentary contexts.

    Simple

    The judge dismissed the case because of a procedural error by the police.

    In context

    The committee's decision was delayed by several procedural challenges raised by the opposition regarding the validity of the initial vote.

    Usage

    Often modifies nouns like 'error', 'requirement', or 'fairness'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    adj.created by a computer program using a set of rules rather than being designed by a person.

    adj.referring to content, such as textures or landscapes, generated algorithmically rather than manually authored.

    Simple

    The game uses procedural generation to create a different world for every player.

    In context

    By employing procedural techniques, the developers were able to create a vast, diverse universe without the need for massive storage space.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'procedural generation'.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a TV show or book that focuses on the technical details of a professional investigation, like a police or medical drama.

    n.a subgenre of detective or crime fiction that emphasizes the realistic and systematic steps of an investigation.

    Simple

    He loves watching a good police procedural on Friday nights.

    In context

    While many viewers prefer high-action thrillers, she enjoys the slow, methodical pace of a well-written legal procedural.

    dramadetective story

Civil society monitors reported mostly orderly voting alongside some incidents of delays and procedural issues.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

However, an increasing number of institutions have abandoned this technology amid concerns about accuracy, bias, procedural fairness and successful legal challenges from students overseas.

Phys.org· 19 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated