informally
Americanadverb
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in a casual manner, without formality.
Some folks still dress to the nines in formal gowns and tuxedos, but most people dress more informally.
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in a way that does not involve or follow prescribed procedures or go through formal or official channels.
Cases of minor misconduct or unsatisfactory performance are usually best dealt with informally.
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in a way that is not orchestrated or arranged.
Hallways and pedestrian bridges joining the buildings provide spaces for researchers to interact informally.
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using familiar, casual, or ordinary speech or writing.
We use different registers, speaking more informally with family and friends out of the classroom than when discussing academics within the classroom.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of informally
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.
That festival idea formally and informally has been a thread throughout Dudamel’s 17 L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
One factor that the committee informally considers is sector balance, according to Roberts.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
Unauthorised peddling, parking and blocking foot traffic were long tolerated informally, but fines are now being enforced -- and city authorities are considering doubling them.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, both members of the progressive group informally known as “the Squad.”
From Salon • May 24, 2026
He kept his promise, although we found he was always teaching us things informally, when our backs were turned.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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.
