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formal - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'formal' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Formal [ a.]
- Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing.
- Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect.
- Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent.
- Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation.
- Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.
- Dependent in form; conventional.
- Sound; normal.
2 . Formal [ n.]
- See Methylal.

Meaning of 'formal' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . formal [ a]
Meaning (1):
- being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
Example in sentence:
  • a formal ball;
  • a formal education;
  • formal dress;
  • pay one's formal respects;
  • the requirement was only formal and often ignored
Meaning (2):
- (of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms
Example in sentence:
  • the paper was written in formal English
3 . formal [ s]
Meaning (3):
- refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court
Example in sentence:
  • a courtly gentleman
Meaning (4):
- characteristic of or befitting a person in authority
Example in sentence:
  • an official banquet;
  • formal duties
Meaning (5):
- logically deductive
Example in sentence:
  • formal proof

Nearby Words:

for for- fora forage foraged forager foraging foralite foramen foramina

See 'formal' also in:

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