formal

1 of 3

adjective (1)

for·mal ˈfȯr-məl How to pronounce formal (audio)

: belonging to or constituting the form or essence of a thing

formal cause

: relating to or involving the outward form, structure, relationships, or arrangement of elements rather than content

formal logic

a formal style of painting

a formal approach to comparative linguistics

: following or according with established form, custom, or rule

lacked formal schooling

a formal dinner party

formal attire

: done in due or lawful form

a formal contract

received formal recognition

: characterized by punctilious respect for form : methodical

very formal in all his dealings

: rigidly ceremonious : prim

the ambience was overly formal, everyone but me was wearing a suit and tie

James Suckling

: having the appearance without the substance

formal Christians who go to church only at Easter

formally

ˈfȯr-mə-lē How to pronounce formal (audio)

adverb

formalness noun

formal

2 of 3

noun

: something (such as a dance or a dress) formal in character

formal

3 of 3

adjective (2)

: molar entry 3

Kids Definition

formal 1 of 2

adjective

for·mal ˈfȯr-məl How to pronounce formal (audio)

: following established form, custom, or rule

She wrote a formal apology.

: acquired by attending classes in a school

a formal education

: requiring proper clothing and manners

a formal dance

: suitable for a proper occasion

formal attire

formal

2 of 2

noun

: a social gathering that requires proper clothing and behavior

formal 1 of 2

adjective

as in ceremonial

following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules a formal meeting of the board of directors a formal contract that was legally binding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

ceremonial
ceremonious
conventional
official
regular
orthodox
proper
decorous
routine
correct
polite
authorized
systematic
ritual
formalistic
accepted
sanctioned
ritualistic
respectable
certified
methodical
genteel
orderly
seemly
nice
methodic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

informal
casual
unconventional
unorthodox
irregular
unofficial
unauthorized
improper
freewheeling
unceremonious
inappropriate
incorrect
unsuitable
unhappy
unseemly
unfit
unbecoming
inept
indecorous
infelicitous
unapt
graceless

as in nominal

being something in name or form only was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

nominal
titular
paper
supposed
virtual
seeming
presumed
ostensible
so-called
evident
apparent
assumed
phantom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

real
true
actual

as in ceremonious

marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details gave her a formal invitation to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

ceremonious
proper
decorous
nice
solemn
correct
civil
stiff
punctilious
stilted
starchy
polite
polished
refined
stately
courtly
sober
chivalrous
stiff-necked
genteel
gallant
courteous
red-carpet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

informal
casual
improper
easygoing
unceremonious
indecorous
laid-back
unmannerly
impolite
discourteous
rude

as in dress

relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners the dress code is formal for tonight's event a shop that rents out formal wear

Synonyms & Similar Words

dress
dressy
stylish
fashionable
costume
tailored
chic
fitted
semiformal
in
evening
smart
modish
dapper
black-tie
white-tie
natty
snappy
costumey
custom-made
sharp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

informal
casual
sporty
street
outmoded
unfashionable
sloppy
slovenly
dowdy
untidy
sportif
unkempt
messy
frowzy
grungy
rumpled
wrinkled
unstylish
disheveled
frowsy
styleless
dishevelled
mussy
sloven

as in eloquent

very dignified in form, tone, or style the formal language of the coronation ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

eloquent
majestic
rhetoric
rhetorical
literary
stately
grammatical
graceful
proper
aristocratic
cultured
lofty
elevated
high-flown
refined
towering
fine
flowery
grandiose
educated
stilted
oratorical
declamatory
grandiloquent
correct
academic
classy
tasteful
bombastic
pretentious
florid
highfalutin
pompous
courtly
affected
genteel
hifalutin
patrician
academical
learned
bookish
Attic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

informal
casual
low
nonformal
undignified
colloquial
conversational
vernacular
slangy
common
unliterary
coarse
crude
gross
vulgar
rough
ineloquent
indecent
uncouth
unpolished
tasteless
rude
unrefined
crass
lowbrow
uncultivated
uncultured
unbookish
incorrect
substandard
ungrammatical
uneducated
unlearned
rough-hewn
lowbred
ill-bred

formal

2 of 2

noun

as in dance

a social gathering for dancing he asked her to the formal at the end of the year

Synonyms & Similar Words

dance
prom
celebration
party
festival
festivity
ball
event
cotillion
reception
gala
hop
masquerade
soiree
cotillon
fete
shindig
blowout
soirée
square dance
mask
masque
mixer
hoedown
fête

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of formal are ceremonial, ceremonious, and conventional. While all these words mean "marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms," formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report

the headmaster's formal manner

Ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies.

a ceremonial offering

While in some cases nearly identical to formal, ceremonious applies to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

In some situations, the words conventional and formal are roughly equivalent. However, conventional implies accord with general custom and usage and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional courtesy

conventional fiction

单词	formal
释义	formal 1 of 3 adjective (1) for·mal ˈfȯr-məl 1 a : belonging to or constituting the form or essence of a thing formal cause b : relating to or involving the outward form, structure, relationships, or arrangement of elements rather than content formal logic a formal style of painting a formal approach to comparative linguistics 2 a : following or according with established form, custom, or rule lacked formal schooling a formal dinner party formal attire b : done in due or lawful form a formal contract received formal recognition 3 a : characterized by punctilious respect for form : methodical very formal in all his dealings b : rigidly ceremonious : prim the ambience was overly formal, everyone but me was wearing a suit and tie James Suckling 4 : having the appearance without the substance formal Christians who go to church only at Easter formally ˈfȯr-mə-lē adverb formalness noun formal 2 of 3 noun : something (such as a dance or a dress) formal in character formal 3 of 3 adjective (2) : molar entry 3 Synonyms Adjective (1) ceremonial ceremonious conventional orthodox regular routine Noun ball cotillion cotillon dance hop prom See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun he asked her to the formal at the end of the year Word History Etymology Adjective (1) and Noun Middle English, from Latin formalis, from forma Adjective (2) formula + -al entry 1 First Known Use Adjective (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun 1605, in the meaning defined above Adjective (2) circa 1934, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition formal 1 of 2 adjective for·mal ˈfȯr-məl 1 : following established form, custom, or rule She wrote a formal apology. 2 : acquired by attending classes in a school a formal education 3 : requiring proper clothing and manners a formal dance 4 : suitable for a proper occasion formal attire formal 2 of 2 noun : a social gathering that requires proper clothing and behavior Legal Definition formal adjective for·mal 1 : relating to or involving outward form, structure, or arrangement rather than content a formal defect in the pleadings 2 : requiring special or established solemnities or formalities especially in order to be effective or valid under the law received formal notice a formal criminal charge 3 : being such only as a matter of form : nominal a formal party to a lawsuit formal 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in ceremonial following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules a formal meeting of the board of directors a formal contract that was legally binding Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ceremonial ceremonious conventional official regular orthodox proper decorous routine correct polite authorized systematic ritual formalistic accepted sanctioned ritualistic respectable certified methodical genteel orderly seemly nice methodic Antonyms & Near Antonyms informal casual unconventional unorthodox irregular unofficial unauthorized improper freewheeling unceremonious inappropriate incorrect unsuitable unhappy unseemly unfit unbecoming inept indecorous infelicitous unapt graceless See More 2 as in nominal being something in name or form only was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting Synonyms & Similar Words nominal titular paper supposed virtual seeming presumed ostensible so-called evident apparent assumed phantom Antonyms & Near Antonyms real true actual 3 as in ceremonious marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details gave her a formal invitation to dinner Synonyms & Similar Words ceremonious proper decorous nice solemn correct civil stiff punctilious stilted starchy polite polished refined stately courtly sober chivalrous stiff-necked genteel gallant courteous red-carpet Antonyms & Near Antonyms informal casual improper easygoing unceremonious indecorous laid-back unmannerly impolite discourteous rude See More 4 as in dress relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners the dress code is formal for tonight's event a shop that rents out formal wear Synonyms & Similar Words dress dressy stylish fashionable costume tailored chic fitted semiformal in evening smart modish dapper black-tie white-tie natty snappy costumey custom-made sharp Antonyms & Near Antonyms informal casual sporty street outmoded unfashionable sloppy slovenly dowdy untidy sportif unkempt messy frowzy grungy rumpled wrinkled unstylish disheveled frowsy styleless dishevelled mussy sloven See More 5 as in eloquent very dignified in form, tone, or style the formal language of the coronation ceremony Synonyms & Similar Words eloquent majestic rhetoric rhetorical literary stately grammatical graceful proper aristocratic cultured lofty elevated high-flown refined towering fine flowery grandiose educated stilted oratorical declamatory grandiloquent correct academic classy tasteful bombastic pretentious florid highfalutin pompous courtly affected genteel hifalutin patrician academical learned bookish Attic Antonyms & Near Antonyms informal casual low nonformal undignified colloquial conversational vernacular slangy common unliterary coarse crude gross vulgar rough ineloquent indecent uncouth unpolished tasteless rude unrefined crass lowbrow uncultivated uncultured unbookish incorrect substandard ungrammatical uneducated unlearned rough-hewn lowbred ill-bred See More formal 2 of 2 noun as in dance a social gathering for dancing he asked her to the formal at the end of the year Synonyms & Similar Words dance prom celebration party festival festivity ball event cotillion reception gala hop masquerade soiree cotillon fete shindig blowout soirée square dance mask masque mixer hoedown fête Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of formal are ceremonial, ceremonious, and conventional. While all these words mean "marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms," formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior. a formal report the headmaster's formal manner Ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies. a ceremonial offering While in some cases nearly identical to formal, ceremonious applies to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony. made his ceremonious entrance In some situations, the words conventional and formal are roughly equivalent. However, conventional implies accord with general custom and usage and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence. conventional courtesy conventional fiction
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formal

adjective (1)

noun

adjective (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun

Legal Definition

adjective

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser