police procedural

American  

noun

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

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police procedural British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of police procedural

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From The Wall Street Journal

“That family dinner is representative of what the show is at its core — a family drama dressed up as a police procedural,” says Sonnier.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Visually, there is little to no difference between one multi-camera sitcom and the next, one single-camera mockumentary sitcom and the next, one single-camera non-mockumentary and the next, one CBS police procedural and the next.

From Los Angeles Times