formal

¹ American  

[fawr-muhl] / ˈfɔr məl /

adjective

1. being in accordance with the usual requirements, customs, etc.; conventional.

   to pay one's formal respects.

2. marked by form or ceremony.

   a formal occasion.

3. designed for wear or use at occasions or events marked by elaborate ceremony or prescribed social observance.

   The formal attire included tuxedos and full-length gowns.

4. requiring a type of dress suitable for such occasions.

   a formal dance.

5. observant of conventional requirements of behavior, procedure, etc., as persons; ceremonious.

   Synonyms:

   conformist

6. excessively ceremonious.

   a manner that was formal and austere.

   Synonyms:

   punctilious

7. being a matter of form only; perfunctory.

   We expected more than just formal courtesy.

8. made or done in accordance with procedures that ensure validity.

   a formal authorization.

   Synonyms:

   official, legal

9. of, relating to, or emphasizing the organization or composition of the constituent elements in a work of art perceived separately from its subject matter.

   a formal approach to painting; the formal structure of a poem.

10. being in accordance with prescribed or customary forms.

    a formal siege.

11. Theater. (of a stage setting) generalized and simplified in design, especially of architectural elements, and serving as a permanent set for a play irrespective of changes in location.

12. acquired in school; academic.

    He had little formal training in economics.

13. symmetrical or highly organized.

    a formal garden.

14. of, reflecting, or noting a usage of language in which syntax, pronunciation, etc., adhere to traditional standards of correctness and usage is characterized by the absence of casual, contracted, and colloquial forms.

    The paper was written in formal English.

15. Philosophy.

    1. pertaining to form.

    2. Aristotelianism. not material; essential.

16. Logic. formal logic.

17. pertaining to the form, shape, or mode of a thing, especially as distinguished from the substance.

    formal writing, bereft of all personality.

18. being such merely in appearance or name; nominal.

    a formal head of the government having no actual powers.

19. Mathematics.

    1. (of a proof ) in strict logical form with a justification for every step.

    2. (of a calculation) correct in form; made with strict justification for every step.

    3. (of a calculation, derivation, representation, or the like) of or relating to manipulation of symbols without regard to their meaning.

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noun

1. a dance, ball, or other social occasion that requires formalwear.

2. an evening gown.

adverb

1. in formal attire.

   We're supposed to go formal.

formal ² American  

[fawr-mal] / ˈfɔr mæl /

noun

Chemistry.

1. methylal.

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formal ¹ British  

/ ˈfɔːməl /

adjective

1. of, according to, or following established or prescribed forms, conventions, etc

   a formal document

2. characterized by observation of conventional forms of ceremony, behaviour, dress, etc

   a formal dinner

3. methodical, precise, or stiff

4. suitable for occasions organized according to conventional ceremony

   formal dress

5. denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, used by educated speakers and writers of a language

6. acquired by study in academic institutions

   a formal education

7. regular or symmetrical in form

   a formal garden

8. of or relating to the appearance, form, etc, of something as distinguished from its substance

9. logically deductive

   formal proof

10. philosophy

    1. of or relating to form as opposed to matter or content

    2. pertaining to the essence or nature of something

       formal cause

    3. (in the writings of Descartes) pertaining to the correspondence between an image or idea and its object

    4. being in the formal mode

11. denoting a second-person pronoun in some languages used when the addressee is a stranger, social superior, etc

    in French the pronoun ``vous'' is formal, while ``tu'' is informal

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formal ² British  

/ ˈfɔːmæl /

noun

1. another name for methylal

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Related Words

Formal, academic, conventional may have either favorable or unfavorable implications. Formal may mean in proper form, or may imply excessive emphasis on empty form. In the favorable sense, academic applies to scholars or higher institutions of learning; it may, however, imply slavish conformance to mere rules, or to belief in impractical theories. Conventional, in a favorable sense, applies to desirable conformity with accepted conventions or customs; but it more often is applied to arbitrary, forced, or meaningless conformity.

Other Word Forms

• formally adverb
• formalness noun

Etymology

Origin of formal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English formal, formel, from Latin fōrmālis; form, -al ¹

Origin of formal²

First recorded in 1895–1900; from formaldehyde

Explanation

Being formal is all about being taken seriously. If you're invited to the White House, you'll want to make a good impression, so it's a good idea to adopt a generally formal demeanor. No jeans or trash talking allowed. In our casual world, there are still many times we need to be formal, like at weddings or funerals. Adopting a formal manner — i.e., dressing up and not eating with your hands — will help you make a good impression on job interviewers or future in-laws. Being formal doesn't have to mean being stiff or unnatural; it's basically just using good manners and following the rules.

Example Sentences

The U.S. is further along with formal discussions with Mexico.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

“While not a formal scientific study, the results of The Plastic Detox will be used to support Dr. Swan’s application for a larger one with government funding.”

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

She asked ministers why specialist maths teachers were not routinely trained to recognise dyscalculia, and whether the government planned to establish a formal definition.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“Family conversations and formal documents reinforce each other,” Trust & Will concluded.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

“Christoffels, my dear associate,” Father murmured in his formal, old-fashioned way, “What joy to see you on this—er—auspicious day.”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• academic
• ceremonial
• explicit
• legal
• precise
• proper
• solemn
• strict