processional

American  

[pruh-sesh-uh-nl] / prəˈsɛʃ ə nl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a procession.

2. of the nature of a procession; moving in an orderly or regular succession, sequence, or the like.

3. of a style, design, etc., customarily used in processions.

   processional regalia.

4. sung or played during a procession, as a hymn, march, etc.

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noun

1. a piece of music, as a hymn or slow march, suitable for accompanying a procession.

2. a book containing hymns, litanies, etc., for use in religious processions.

processional British  

/ prəˈsɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for a procession

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noun

1. Christianity

   1. a book containing the prayers, hymns, litanies, and liturgy prescribed for processions

   2. a hymn, litany, etc, used in a procession

Other Word Forms

• nonprocessional adjective
• processionally adverb
• unprocessional adjective

Etymology

Origin of processional

1400–50; (noun) late Middle English: service book < Medieval Latin prōcessiōnāle, noun use of neuter of prōcessiōnālis in a procession; (adj.) < Medieval Latin prōcessiōnālis; procession, -al ², -al ¹

Example Sentences

Disneyland, of course, is home to the long-running A Christmas Fantasy Parade, but I’d argue it’s not even the best processional happening this time of year.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025

Lavanya Sharma, 21, who was selected to be a flag bearer, was among those in the processional that kicked off the Coliseum celebration.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

Add in the difficulty of overtaking to an event where there were no significant tyre-pace offsets developing, and the race was always likely to be processional.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

Recycled robes, processional marches, silver pens from Tiffany: It is graduation season in America.

From New York Times • May 23, 2024

Then a sudden fanfare of trumpets sounded and he jumped to the floor, bowing deeply as Gertrude and Claudius, arm in arm, descended the processional stairs into the great hall.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein