formal Hear it!

formal definition

for·mal (fôr′məl)

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
    1. having the appearance of being suitable, correct, etc., but not really so
    2. stiff in manner; not warm or relaxed
    1. designed for use or wear at ceremonies, elaborate parties, etc. formal dress
    2. 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.

Etymology: ME < L formalis < forma, form

noun

  1. a formal dance or ball
  2. a woman's evening dress
formal Idioms

go formal

Informal to go dressed in evening clothes

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

formal Synonyms

formal

modif.

  1. Notable for arrangement

    orderly, precise, set, symmetrical; see regular 3.

  2. Concerned with etiquette and behavior

    reserved, distant, stiff, ceremonious; see conventional 2, 3, polite 1.

  3. Official

    prescribed, confirmed, directed, lawful; see approved, legal 1.

  4. In or requiring evening clothes

    full-dress, black tie, white tie, dressy, dressed up, ceremonious, social, in tails and top hat, in one's glad rags*, in a soup and fish*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

formal Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • qualification: Coming from an inner city area of Bradford, Mohammed left school with no formal qualifications.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: It is a consciousness whose problems are purely formal or technical, with precisely definable solutions.

Used with adjective complement

  • have: Most professional bodies have formal CPD schemes in place.
formal usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

formal quotes

Wearing underwear is as formal as I ever hope I get.

-Hemingway, Ernest Millar

formal quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"formal." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/formal>

APA Style

formal. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/formal

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