pro forma

American  

[proh fawr-muh] / proʊ ˈfɔr mə /

Also proforma

adjective

1. according to form; as a matter of form; for the sake of form.

2. Commerce. provided in advance of shipment and merely showing the description and quantity of goods shipped without terms of payment.

   a pro forma invoice.

3. Accounting. indicating hypothetical financial figures based on previous business operations for estimate purposes.

   a pro forma balance sheet.

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adverb

1. as a matter of form.

   Many of the school assignments appear to be done pro forma.

noun

plural

pro forma, pro formas

1. a pro forma document.

pro forma British  

/ ˈprəʊ ˈfɔːmə /

adjective

1. prescribing a set form or procedure

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adverb

1. performed in a set manner

pro forma Cultural  

1. Doing something pro forma means satisfying only the minimum requirements of a task and doing it in a perfunctory way: “Her welcoming address was strictly pro forma: you could tell that her mind was a million miles away.” From Latin, meaning “by form.”

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Etymology

Origin of pro forma

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin prō formā

Example Sentences

A merher would have seen Rio Tinto retain control of the chairman and CEO roles and receive pro forma ownership of the combined company, which Glencore said “significantly undervalued” its contribution.

From Barron's

“The pro forma market cap, inventory, balance sheet, reinvestment rate, trading multiple, and a host of other metrics all are among the best in the peer group,” he wrote.

From Barron's

The acquisition is also expected to boost revenue, and would represent an estimated 50% increase in full year 2025 revenue on a pro forma basis, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal

If analysts who follow utility stocks put a 16 multiple on NFG’s pro forma utility earnings, the stock will trade even higher.

From Barron's

The company, in fact, has publicly committed to surpassing 35% in annual pro forma operating margins over the next three to five years, compared with 22% now.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• formal