informally
Americanadverb
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in a casual manner, without formality.
Some folks still dress to the nines in formal gowns and tuxedos, but most people dress more informally.
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in a way that does not involve or follow prescribed procedures or go through formal or official channels.
Cases of minor misconduct or unsatisfactory performance are usually best dealt with informally.
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in a way that is not orchestrated or arranged.
Hallways and pedestrian bridges joining the buildings provide spaces for researchers to interact informally.
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using familiar, casual, or ordinary speech or writing.
We use different registers, speaking more informally with family and friends out of the classroom than when discussing academics within the classroom.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of informally
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.
Informally, nearly half the country is now thought to have taken on an urban character, with the next census delayed until 2026.
From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025
Informally, men say people are surprised and puzzled when they take time off work to be fathers.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023
The entirety of English Wikipedia, from “List of Informally Named Dinosaurs” to “Floor” to “Skunks as Pets” and everything in between, is 87 GB with pictures or 47 GB without.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2022
Informally, it was known as the “Anti-Machine Gun Bill.”
From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2019
Informally and unofficially, but still present in the flesh.
From When William Came by Saki
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
