formalism
noun
strict adherence to, or observance of, prescribed or traditional forms, as in music, poetry, and art.
formalist
-
a word derived from
formalism.
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.
In addition to its dream cast it has a formalist precision resembling musical composition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
In the 51-page, partially redacted document, Sir Peter said Harry's lawyers had taken "an inappropriate, formalist interpretation of the Ravec process".
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2024
Aster may ultimately be too much the formalist control freak to achieve the crazy, let-it-all-hang-out catharsis he’s chasing, and the elaborate trap he’s engineered for Beau seems to close, finally, on himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2023
The complex and lively distribution of shapes and colors underscores why Adams calls himself a formalist.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
As an upholder of the law he becomes a formalist and a reactionary.
From The Man in Court by Frederic DeWitt Wells
