semiformal

[sem-ee-fawr-muhl, sem-ahy-]

adjective

1. partly formal; containing some formal elements.

   a semiformal occasion; semiformal attire.

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiformal¹

First recorded in 1930–35; semi- + formal ¹

Example Sentences

The dress code was originally billed as semiformal, but, in line with the casual attire of startups, was later revised to “business casual but feel free to dress it up!”

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Close your eyes for a moment and think of a person wearing head-to-toe white in a room full of others clad in semiformal attire.

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It goes by other labels, too, such as “creative” semiformal when a “diamonds and denim” theme or a “dressy Western” vibe is noted, for instance.

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The social imperative — Newnam’s semiformal objective in each locale is to get invited to someone’s home for dinner — steers the show into unexpectedly suspenseful territory.

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Dear Miss Manners: My brother and I went to a semiformal dinner where spaghetti was the main course.

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