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formal

/ˈfɔɹməl/noun, adjective2 syllables

Formal means: being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress).

Synonyms for formal32

noun, as in a gown for evening wear

dinner dress, dinner gown, evening gown

noun, as in a lavish dance requiring formal attire

ball

adjective, as in being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, dress, full-dress, form-only, nominal, titular, positive, prescribed, pro forma, perfunctory, semiformal, semi-formal
and 5 more, black-tie, starchy, stiff, buckram, white-tie

adjective, as in represented in simplified or symbolic form

conventional, schematic, nonrepresentational

adjective, as in refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court

courtly, stately, dignified

adjective, as in (of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms

literary, rhetorical

adjective, as in characteristic of or befitting a person in authority

official

adjective, as in logically deductive

logical

Opposites of formal

informal

What does formal mean?8

adjective

1

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)“pay one's formal respects”

2

represented in simplified or symbolic form

3

refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court“a courtly gentleman”

4

(of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms“the paper was written in formal English”

5

characteristic of or befitting a person in authority“formal duties”

6

logically deductive“formal proof”

noun

1

a gown for evening wear

2

a lavish dance requiring formal attire

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with formal?4

two syllables

normal

three syllables

informalabnormal

four syllables

paranormal
Show 40 near rhymes
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Formal in a sentence

  • This phrase should only be used colloquially, never in a formal setting.Vanilla
  • Courtship is much more formal than flirting, but the idea is similar.DuosDragonPolyglot
  • His grammar is perfect, but he speaks in an overly formal register.mailohilohi
  • In academic writing, you need to use formal language.Amastan
  • We don't need a formal institution for preserving peace.unknown
  • Would you like to make a formal complaint?Hybrid
  • Maria is formal when she talks with her parents.carlosalberto
  • Your shirt is a bit too formal for this occasion.Amastan

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of formal

as a noun

plural
formals