Synonyms

police procedural

American

noun

a mystery novel, film, or television drama that deals realistically with police work.

police procedural British

noun

a novel, film, or television drama that deals realistically with police work

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of police procedural

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Claudia seeks the truth in a story that combines forensic puzzle, legal thriller and police procedural.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Their styles prove surprisingly complementary in this thoughtful and character-rich police procedural.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

At the same time, once you know the basic premise of the show — it’s an elite military police procedural — it’s not hard to figure out where you are, wherever you drop in.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025

This military police procedural drama, still going strong after a staggering 21 seasons, has never been a favorite of critics.

From New York Times • May 28, 2024

Nathan Fillion leads the police procedural “The Rookie,” and Freddie Highmore returns for the seventh and final season of the hospital drama, “The Good Doctor” where he plays a surgeon with autism.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023