Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

informally

American  
[in-fawr-muh-lee] / ɪnˈfɔr mə li /

adverb

  1. in a casual manner, without formality.

    Some folks still dress to the nines in formal gowns and tuxedos, but most people dress more informally.

  2. 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.

  3. in a way that is not orchestrated or arranged.

    Hallways and pedestrian bridges joining the buildings provide spaces for researchers to interact informally.

  4. 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

informal ( def. ) + -ly


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.

See Examples For:

Vendors like her are informally known as “Schatzis,” German for “sweethearts.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

The former staff member at Shoreditch House, Kamran Khan, first raised concerns informally about the alleged re-labelling practice before formally filing a complaint with Soho House.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Paleontologists have sometimes informally called zhelestids "Cretaceous rabbits" because they resembled rabbits despite being only distantly related to modern ones.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

Subramanian’s objective: to improve checks and balances to the point that the Ghanaian informally mined gold is fully traceable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

He kept his promise, although we found he was always teaching us things informally, when our backs were turned.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com