formalize

[ fawr-muh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, for·mal·ized, for·mal·iz·ing.

1. to make formal, especially for the sake of official or authorized acceptance:

   to formalize an understanding by drawing up a legal contract.

2. to give a definite form or shape to.
3. to state or restate (the rules or implied rules of a grammar or the like) in symbolic form.

formalize

/ ˈfɔːməˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to be or make formal
2. tr to make official or valid
3. tr to give a definite shape or form to
4. logic to extract the logical form of (an expression), to express in the symbols of some formal system

Derived Forms

• ˈformalˌizer, noun
• ˌformaliˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• formal·i·zation noun
• formal·izer noun
• over·formal·ize verb overformalized overformalizing
• un·formal·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of formalize¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; formal ¹ + -ize

Example Sentences

In addition to formalizing that the vice president would assume the duties of the presidency in the event of a president’s death, removal from office or resignation, it instituted a process by which a living president could be removed from office.

From Washington Post

Fifteen years ago, the IGBC asked if he’d help them formalize the program by using the bears that got there in the first place by getting into garbage.

From Outside Online

The 25th Amendment formalizes that the vice president takes over the duties of the presidency in the event of a president’s death, inability to perform his duties or resignation from office.

From Washington Post

States have adopted and formalized voter registration systems at different times, and some just allowed people to register on Election Day when they came in to vote.

From Vox

Coq users have formalized a lot of mathematics in its language, but that work has been decentralized and unorganized.

From Quanta Magazine

Maps have long served to formalize authority over peoples and their lands and resources.

From The Daily Beast

She sought to finalize and formalize the split by filing for divorce in Brooklyn.

From The Daily Beast

The battle will now focus on the drafting of Egypt's new constitution, which will formalize the emerging allocation of power.

From The Daily Beast

Of course any effort to impose such a system would simply be to formalize what already exists, and has since 1967.

From The Daily Beast

The first step is to formalize something resembling a brand.

From The Daily Beast

But this priest was standing in the corridor and was rather insistent that he formalize some prayers at that point.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet strangely and unexpectedly the attempt to formalize his faith almost shook his faith out of him again.

From Project Gutenberg

"Formalize our mating as soon as she is able to get out of bed," Kennon replied.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• characterize
• construe
• decide
• delineate
• describe
• designate
• detail
• determine
• exemplify
• explain
• illustrate
• interpret
• prescribe
• represent
• specify
• spell out