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Synonyms

police procedural

American  

noun

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


police procedural British  

noun

  1. 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.

See Examples For:

A police procedural about Dutton family son Kayce Dutton, a character who now works as an investigator, “Marshals” premiered on CBS in March, having been produced by Sheridan but written by someone else.

From MarketWatch May 5, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 14, 2025

Her latest role is in the comedic police procedural “Good Cop/Bad Cop,” which starts streaming on Amazon Prime this month.

From Los Angeles Times May 1, 2025

It’s a mystery wrapped in a family drama wrapped ina police procedural, tricked out with fantasy element and social issues.

From Los Angeles Times May 29, 2024

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

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