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

Yes the race can be processional, because overtaking is so difficult.

From BBC • May 21, 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

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

From New York Times • May 23, 2024

This was what the Portuguese composer called her own take on the fantastical world of Cervantes’ — a kind of processional colored calm in which melodic or rhythmic wisps reconfigure, never quite to be captured.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2024

Each game that he played, or analyzed, whether his or others’, established a processional of insight.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady