formal
1 Americanadjective
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being in accordance with the usual requirements, customs, etc.; conventional.
to pay one's formal respects.
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marked by form or ceremony.
a formal occasion.
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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.
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requiring a type of dress suitable for such occasions.
a formal dance.
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observant of conventional requirements of behavior, procedure, etc., as persons; ceremonious.
- Synonyms:
- conformist
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excessively ceremonious.
a manner that was formal and austere.
- Synonyms:
- punctilious
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being a matter of form only; perfunctory.
We expected more than just formal courtesy.
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made or done in accordance with procedures that ensure validity.
a formal authorization.
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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.
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being in accordance with prescribed or customary forms.
a formal siege.
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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.
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acquired in school; academic.
He had little formal training in economics.
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symmetrical or highly organized.
a formal garden.
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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.
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Philosophy.
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pertaining to form.
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Aristotelianism. not material; essential.
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Logic. formal logic.
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pertaining to the form, shape, or mode of a thing, especially as distinguished from the substance.
formal writing, bereft of all personality.
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being such merely in appearance or name; nominal.
a formal head of the government having no actual powers.
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Mathematics.
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(of a proof ) in strict logical form with a justification for every step.
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(of a calculation) correct in form; made with strict justification for every step.
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(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
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a dance, ball, or other social occasion that requires formalwear.
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an evening gown.
adverb
noun
adjective
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of, according to, or following established or prescribed forms, conventions, etc
a formal document
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characterized by observation of conventional forms of ceremony, behaviour, dress, etc
a formal dinner
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methodical, precise, or stiff
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suitable for occasions organized according to conventional ceremony
formal dress
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denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, used by educated speakers and writers of a language
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acquired by study in academic institutions
a formal education
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regular or symmetrical in form
a formal garden
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of or relating to the appearance, form, etc, of something as distinguished from its substance
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logically deductive
formal proof
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philosophy
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of or relating to form as opposed to matter or content
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pertaining to the essence or nature of something
formal cause
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(in the writings of Descartes) pertaining to the correspondence between an image or idea and its object
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being in the formal mode
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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
noun
Synonym Usage
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
Etymology
Origin of formal1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English formal, formel, from Latin fōrmālis; see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing formal
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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.
Asked about this, Peskov insisted Wednesday that he had "no information" regarding a formal US request for clarification, nor about a call scheduled between the two leaders.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The FA did not charge Leeds United's former manager Marcelo Bielsa after the club were found guilty of spying on Derby in 2019, instead issuing a formal warning.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The formal dining room is to the right, while a moody sitting room with deep purple walls and coffered ceilings is to the left.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
There were handheld American flags on skinny sticks, midsize ones to display on a wall and majestic formal flags adorned with silky gold fringe.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Deutsche Bank had even sent along the formal handouts intended for subprime buyers, as a kind of script for them to follow.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
