formal mode

British

noun

philosophy the style in which words are explicitly mentioned rather than used of their subject matter. "Fido" is a dog's name is in the formal mode, while "Fido is a dog" is in the material mode See also mention

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

But for some, this is not merely the embrace of a more formal mode of worship.

From Washington Post • Jun. 20, 2022

Censure is not a formal mode of discipline for a president, but a move Congress votes on in expressing severe disapproval of something.

From Fox News • Jun. 2, 2020

“She’s in formal mode throughout. For me, the most amazing thing is just to witness her from that little girl at age 11 all the way to the present queen,” who is now 88.

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2015

“Daag, Mynheer Commandant,” said Colvin, mindful of the way in which a greater than this had received a less formal mode of address.

From Aletta A Tale of the Boer Invasion by Mitford, Bertram

This formal mode of extinguishing an obligation contracted verbally received its name from the book-keeping term acceptilatio, entering a receipt, i.e. carrying it to credit.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023