formal definition

English formal definition

Etymology 1

From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin formalis, from forma (“form”); see form.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹməl/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːməl/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)məl
• Hyphenation: for‧mal

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

formal (comparative more formal, superlative most formal)

1. Being in accord with established forms.

   She spoke formal English, without any dialect.

2. Official.

   I'd like to make a formal complaint.

   Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake.”

3. Relating to the form or structure of something.

   Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.

   • 1978, Heikki Seppä, Form Emphasis for Metalsmiths, [Kent, Oh.]: Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 1:

     THE THREE DOMINANT FORMS IN METALSMITHING […] At present, there are but three basic volumetric forms dominating the work of metalsmiths, the spherical (usually in its most practical form, the domical), the cylindrical, and the cubical. […] The possibilities for further variations on them are all but exhausted, there being little chance to express new and unusual ideas within the framework of such limited choices. As a result, much of twentieth-century metalsmithing has relied on surface enrichment rather than formal development for its originality.

4. Relating to formation.

   The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.

5. Ceremonial or traditional.

   Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!

6. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.

   He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.

7. Organized; well-structured and planned.

   When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.

8. (mathematics) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.

   Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.

Antonyms

• informal

Derived terms

Related terms

• form

Translations

Noun

formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals)

1. (clothing) An evening gown.
   • 1965, Shadow Morton (lyrics and music), “Sophisticated Boom Boom”, performed by The Shangri-Las:

     Well, I open up the door / And much to my surprise / The girls were wearin' formals / And the boys were wearin' ties

2. An event with a formal dress code.

   Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.

3. (programming) A formal parameter.
4. (Oxbridge slang) Ellipsis of formal hall..

Derived terms

• formal swap

Etymology 2

see formo-

Noun

formal (plural formals)

1. (uncountable) Formalin.
2. An acetal formed from formaldehyde.

Translations

Related terms

• essive-formal
• hemiformal

Further reading

• formal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• formal in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Folmar

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Catalan formal definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /furˈmal/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

formal (masculine and feminine plural formals)

1. formal

   Antonym: informal

Derived terms

• formalitzar
• formalment
• informal

Related terms

• forma
• formalitat

Further reading

• “formal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “formal”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2022
• “formal” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “formal” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

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Crimean Tatar formal definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin formalis, from forma (“form”).

Adjective

formal

1. formal

References

• Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎^[1], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

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Galician formal definition

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/

Noun

formal m (plural formais)

1. site, plot
   • 1290, M. Lucas Álvarez P. Lucas Domínguez (eds.), El monasterio de San Clodio do Ribeiro en la Edad Media: estudio y documentos. Sada / A Coruña: Edicións do Castro, page 415:

     damos a uos que tenades de nos essa cassa en que uos ora morades en Eyres, con seu saydo et con todo o formal dessa casa, asi como esta çerrada de muro ao tenpo da era desta carta.

     we give you, for you to have, that house where you now dwell in Eires, with its garden and with the whole plot of that house, as it is enclosed with a wall at the time of this charter

   Synonym: sesego

2. foundation, ruin
3. mould for the production of tiles

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/

Adjective

formal m or f (plural formais)

1. formal

Derived terms

• formalmente

Related terms

• forma
• formalidade
• informal

Further reading

• “formal” in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega, Royal Galician Academy.

References

• “formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006–2022.
• “formal” in Xavier Varela Barreiro & Xavier Gómez Guinovart: Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval. SLI / Grupo TALG / ILG, 2006–2018.
• “formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
• “formal” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
• “formal” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.

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German formal definition

Etymology

Form +‎ -al

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔʁˈmaːl/
• Rhymes: -aːl

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

formal (strong nominative masculine singular formaler, comparative formaler, superlative am formalsten)

1. formal (being in accord with established forms)

Usage notes

Not to be confused with formell. The adjectives formell and informell express the presence or absence of ceremonies: ein informelles Treffen is a meeting in a near-private context. The adjective formal stresses the outward appearance (pro forma) as opposed to the content or the spirit.

Declension

Further reading

• “formal” in Duden online
• “formal” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

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Piedmontese formal definition

Etymology

From Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /furˈmal/
• Rhymes: -al

Adjective

formal

1. formal

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Portuguese formal definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin formalis. By surface analysis, forma +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: for‧mal
• Rhymes: -al, -aw

Adjective

formal m or f (plural formais, comparable)

1. formal (being in accord with established forms)
2. formal (official)
3. formal (relating to the form or structure of something)
4. formal (ceremonial)
5. (logic) formal (involving mere manipulations of symbols)

Derived terms

• formalmente

Further reading

• “formal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

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Romanian formal definition

Etymology

Borrowed from French formel, Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /forˈmal/

Adjective

formal m or n (feminine singular formală, masculine plural formali, feminine and neuter plural formale)

1. formal

Declension

Related terms

• formalitate

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Spanish formal definition

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/, [foɾˈmal]
• Hyphenation: for‧mal

Adjective

formal (plural formales)

1. formal
2. reliable, dependable

Derived terms

Related terms

• forma
• informal
  • informalidad
  • informalmente

Further reading

• “formal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014