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

There are some pro forma jokes about the sensitivities of the young, with Greg getting into not-very-hot water over misunderstood references to “white whale” and the Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian.”

From Los Angeles Times

That will be a largely pro forma process because the real decision about a successor will likely take place outside the council as consensus forms around a new leader.

From The Wall Street Journal

“As benefits around synergies and growth are realized and the Victory trading multiple appropriately reflects the pro forma company’s future prospects, Janus Henderson shareholders will share in the meaningful long-term value creation,” Victory said.

From MarketWatch

The groups failed to reach an agreement on the key terms, which included Rio Tinto retaining both the chairman and chief executive roles, and pro forma ownership of the combined group.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

• formal