Formal speech or behaviour is very correct and serious rather than relaxed and friendly, and is used especially in official situations.
He wrote a very formal letter of apology to Douglas.
Business relationships are necessarily a bit more formal.
Synonyms: serious, stiff, detached, aloof More Synonyms of formal
formallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
He took her back to Vincent Square in a taxi, saying goodnight formally on the doorstep.
formalityuncountable noun
Lillith's formality and seriousness amused him.
Synonyms: convention, form, conventionality, matter of form More Synonyms of formal
Synonyms: correctness, seriousness, decorum, ceremoniousness More Synonyms of formal
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A formal action, statement, or request is an official one.
U.N. officials said a formal request was passed to American authorities.
No formal announcement had been made.
...a formal application.
Synonyms: official, express, explicit, authorized More Synonyms of formal
formallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Diplomats haven't formally agreed to Anderson's plan.
They are now formally separated and they will continue to lead their own lives.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Formal occasions are special occasions at which people wear smart clothes and behave according to a set of accepted rules.
One evening the film company arranged a formal dinner after the play.
Synonyms: ceremonial, traditional, solemn, ritualistic More Synonyms of formal
Formal is also a noun.
...a wide array of events, including school formals and speech nights, weddings,and balls.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Formal clothes are very smart clothes that are suitable for formal occasions.
They wore ordinary ties instead of the more formal high collar and cravat.
formallyadverb [ADVERB after verb, ADVERB -ed]
It was really too warm for her to dress so formally.
5. graded adjective
Something that is done, written, or studied in a formal way has a very ordered, organized method or style.
This does not encourage the child to analyse the environment in a formal way.
Classic Greek drama was written in verse, usually in an elevated and formal style.
...a formal methodology.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Formal education or training is given officially, usually in a school, college, or university.
Although his formal education stopped after primary school, he was an avid reader.
Leroy didn't have any formal dance training.
Synonyms: conventional, established, traditional More Synonyms of formal
formallyadverb [ADVERB -ed]
Mr Dawe was the ancient, formally trained head gardener.
7. adjective
A formal garden or room is arranged in a very regular and controlled way, especially according to certain rules of design.
...a formal herb garden.
The Coronata wallpaper lends a formal air to the dining room.
Synonyms: arranged, regular, symmetrical More Synonyms of formal
8. See also formality
More Synonyms of formal
formal in British English1
(ˈfɔːməl)
adjective
1.
of, according to, or following established or prescribed forms, conventions, etc
a formal document
2.
characterized by observation of conventional forms of ceremony, behaviour, dress, etc
a formal dinner
3.
methodical, precise, or stiff
4.
suitable for occasions organized according to conventional ceremony
formal dress
5.
denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, used by educated speakers and writers of a language
6.
acquired by study in academic institutions
a formal education
7.
regular or symmetrical in form
a formal garden
8.
of or relating to the appearance, form, etc, of something as distinguished from its substance
9.
logically deductive
formal proof
10. philosophy
a.
of or relating to form as opposed to matter or content
b.
pertaining to the essence or nature of something
formal cause
c.
(in the writings of Descartes) pertaining to the correspondence between an image or idea and its object
d.
being in the formal mode
11.
denoting a second-person pronoun in some languages used when the addressee is a stranger, social superior, etc
in French the pronoun 'vous' is formal, while 'tu' is informal
Derived forms
formally (ˈformally)
adverb
formalness (ˈformalness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin formālis
formal in British English2
(ˈfɔːmæl)
noun
another name for methylal
Word origin
C19: from form(ic) + -al3
formal in American English
(ˈfɔrməl)
adjective
1.
of external form or structure, rather than nature or content
2.
of the internal form; relating to the intrinsic or essential character or nature
3.
of or according to prescribed or fixed customs, rules, ceremonies, etc.
a formal wedding
4.
a.
having the appearance of being suitable, correct, etc., but not really so
b.
stiff in manner; not warm or relaxed
5.
a.
designed for use or wear at ceremonies, elaborate parties, etc.
formal dress
b.
requiring clothes of this kind
a formal dance
6.
done or made in orderly, regular fashion; methodical
7.
very regular or orderly in arrangement, pattern, etc.; rigidly symmetrical
a formal garden
8.
done or made according to the forms that make explicit, definite, valid, etc.
a formal contract
9.
designating education in schools, colleges, etc.
10.
designating or of the level of language usage characterized by expanded vocabulary, complete syntactic constructions, complex sentences, etc.
see also colloquial, or informal
noun
11.
a formal dance or ball
12.
a woman's evening dress
Idioms:
go formal
Word origin
ME < L formalis < forma, form
Examples of 'formal' in a sentence
formal
He said he would make a formal announcement about his future today.
The Sun (2016)
Its training blends formal learning with vocational qualifications and engineering degrees.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He lodged a complaint to police and has now received a formal letter of apology.
The Sun (2016)
But she will make no formal announcement and is instead pouring her heart out in the recording studio as she continues work on her new album.
The Sun (2016)
A formal announcement on the new points system and fines is expected to be made in the next few weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most of the rooms have views over the formal gardens and the village cricket field, which form part of the grounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All ministers should have a formal ceremony when they are appointed to impress upon them that duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But no formal announcement has been made.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This stems from his lack of formal training.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is a formal garden and wilder parts.
The Sun (2011)
The mum of two is now demanding a formal apology.
The Sun (2014)
So the panel interview tends to be a rather formal procedure.
Fletcher, Clive How to Face Interviews (1981)
Some have worn the outfits only for the launch and formal dinners.
The Sun (2012)
The group issued him with a formal letter and ultimatum.
The Sun (2016)
Does it work in your favour that only one of you has any formal chef training?
The Sun (2016)
In fact he was courteous and rather formal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One does not learn the alphabet through experience but through formal education.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
The architects of the scheme have sounded out government officials and hope to make a formal announcement soon.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But if the principal guest decides to wear something less formal he will not be made any less welcome.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He despised formal ceremony and sometimes shocked foreign dignitaries by meeting them in his slippers or a threadbare jacket.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
It's a bit formal for me.
The Sun (2014)
They don't want a large formal garden or something that requires daily upkeep.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Previously, this involved sending on a formal letter from your university.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We involve people in training, both formal and informal.
Christianity Today (2000)
A formal announcement will be released this morning.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
With a pair of faded jeans it's daytime but then with the blue dress it looks a bit more formal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
formal
British English: formal /ˈfɔːməl/ ADJECTIVE
Formal speech or behaviour is very correct and serious rather than relaxed and friendly, and is used especially in official situations.
...a formal letter of apology.
American English: formal
Arabic: رَسْمِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: formal
Chinese: 正式的
Croatian: formalan
Czech: formální
Danish: formel
Dutch: formeel
European Spanish: formal
Finnish: muodollinen
French: formel
German: formell
Greek: επίσημος
Italian: formale
Japanese: 正式の
Korean: 형식적인
Norwegian: formell
Polish: formalny
European Portuguese: formal
Romanian: oficial
Russian: формальный
Latin American Spanish: formal
Swedish: formell
Thai: เป็นทางการ
Turkish: resmi
Ukrainian: формальний
Vietnamese: trịnh trọng
All related terms of 'formal'
go formal
to go dressed in evening clothes
formal mode
the style in which words are explicitly mentioned rather than used of their subject matter . " Fido " is a dog's name is in the formal mode , while "Fido is a dog " is in the material mode
formal dress
smart clothes as might be worn at work; business dress
formal logic
the study of systems of deductive argument in which symbols are used to represent precisely defined categories of expressions
formal system
an uninterpreted symbolic system whose syntax is precisely defined, and on which a relation of deducibility is defined in purely syntactic terms; a logistic system
formal theory
an uninterpreted symbolic system whose syntax is precisely defined , and on which a relation of deducibility is defined in purely syntactic terms; a logistic system
formal calculus
an uninterpreted symbolic system whose syntax is precisely defined, and on which a relation of deducibility is defined in purely syntactic terms; a logistic system
formal grammar
a set of syntactically valid formation rules of a formal language
formal inquiry
An inquiry is an official investigation .
formal language
a language designed for use in situations in which natural language is unsuitable , as for example in mathematics , logic , or computer programming. The symbols and formulas of such languages stand in precisely specified syntactic and semantic relations to one another
formal process
A process is a series of actions which are carried out in order to achieve a particular result.
formal request
If you make a request , you politely or formally ask someone to do something.
formal arrangement
An arrangement is an agreement that you make with someone to do something.
formal equivalence
the relation that holds between two open sentences when their universal closures are materially equivalent
formal procedure
A procedure is a way of doing something, especially the usual or correct way.
formal structure
The structure of something is the way in which it is made, built, or organized .
formal identification
Your identification of a particular person or thing is your ability to name them because you know them or recognize them.
formal qualifications
Your qualifications are the examinations that you have passed.