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formalize

[ fawr-muh-lahyz ]
/ ˈfɔr məˌlaɪz /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR formalize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), for·mal·ized, for·mal·iz·ing.

to make formal, especially for the sake of official or authorized acceptance: to formalize an understanding by drawing up a legal contract.
to give a definite form or shape to.
to state or restate (the rules or implied rules of a grammar or the like) in symbolic form.

RELATED WORDS

distribute, place, plan, file, conduct, establish, assign, delineate, represent, decide, explain, describe, prescribe, detail, characterize, exemplify, specify, determine, construe, designate

Nearby words

  1. formalin,
  2. formalin pigment,
  3. formalise,
  4. formalism,
  5. formality,
  6. formally,
  7. formalwear,
  8. formamidase,
  9. forman,
  10. formant
Also especially British, for·mal·ise.

Origin of formalize

First recorded in 1590–1600; formal1 + -ize
Related formsfor·mal·i·za·tion, nounfor·mal·iz·er, nouno·ver·for·mal·ize, verb, o·ver·for·mal·ized, o·ver·for·mal·iz·ing.un·for·mal·ized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for formalize

British Dictionary definitions for formalize

formalize

formalise

/ (ˈfɔːməˌlaɪz) /

verb

to be or make formal
(tr) to make official or valid
(tr) to give a definite shape or form to
logic to extract the logical form of (an expression), to express in the symbols of some formal system
Derived Formsformalization or formalisation, nounformalizer or formaliser, noun
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

Word Origin and History for formalize

formalize

v.

1590s, from formal + -ize. Related: Formalized; formalizing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper