formally
Americanadverb
-
in a formal manner.
The store was formally opened on Tuesday.
-
as regards form; in form.
It may be formally correct, but it is substantively wrong.
Etymology
Origin of formally
Compare meaning
How does formally compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Formally describes something done according to an established custom, like dressing formally for dinner with the President, as people always have done. In our casual era of wearing jeans almost everywhere and calling our elders by their first name, it's not every day that you meet someone who acts, speaks, or dresses more formally. But there is still value in this kind of expression, especially in showing respect on important occasions like weddings and funerals. Another meaning of the adverb formally is "officially," like being formally invited to dinner at the White House.
Vocabulary lists containing formally
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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"LAFFF"
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Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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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.
In May 2025, the World Health Organization formally placed chronic kidney disease on its agenda for reducing early deaths from noncommunicable diseases by one third before 2030.
From Science Daily • May 29, 2026
Several of the victims have been named and tributes paid, while others have not yet been formally identified by police.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
In October, McArthur, Blanchard, Gabbert, Frank and about 20 other members were formally disciplined at a meeting of the FOC.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
If you talk to an adviser about your strategy, make sure you are formally engaging them and that they are a fiduciary bound to give you advice that is in your best interest.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
“We’ll take you to the Court of the Sky. There you may formally ask the Council of Guardians for the details of your quest.”
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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.
