formal
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- official, ceremonial, ritualistic, solemn
- conventional, affected, correct, precise, stiff, unbending

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Antonyms: informal
Related Words: methodical, orderly, regular, systematic, decorous, proper, seemly, prim, unbending, distant, reserved

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English Thesaurus: dance, ball, prom, formal, disco, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. form‧al¹ S2 W2 /ˈfɔːməl $ ˈfɔːr-/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: formality ≠ informality, formalization; verb: formalize; adverb: formally ≠ informally; adjective: formal ≠ informal]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: formalis, from forma; ⇒ form¹]

1. OFFICIAL [usually before noun] made or done officially or publicly Antonym : informal:
formal recognition of the reformed church
a formal agreement between the countries
There is no formal structure for negotiating pay increases.
make/lodge a formal complaint
Mr Kelly has lodged a formal complaint against the police.

2. BEHAVIOUR formal behaviour is very polite, and is used in official or important situations, or with people you do not know well Antonym : informal:
Over the years, teaching methods have changed and become less formal.

3. LANGUAGE formal language is used in official or serious situations Antonym : informal:
‘Yours sincerely’ is a formal way of ending a letter.

4. EVENT/OCCASION a formal event is important, and people who go to it wear special clothes and behave very politely Antonym : informal:
I’ve met her twice but only on formal occasions.
a formal dinner

5. CLOTHES formal dress is clothing such as a tuxedo for men or a long dress for women, that is worn to formal events Antonym : casual, informal:
We insist on formal dress for dinner.

6. formal education/training/qualifications education etc in a subject or skill, that you receive in a school, college etc rather than practical experience of it:
knowledge and wisdom gained from experience rather than from formal education

7. ORGANIZED done in a very organized way Antonym : informal:
The course includes formal lectures.

8. GARDEN/PARK a formal garden, park, or room is arranged in a very organized way Antonym : informal:
the palace’s beautifully restored formal gardens
⇒ formally

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. formal² noun [countable] American English

1. a dance at which you have to wear formal clothes

2. an expensive and usually long dress that women wear on formal occasions

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

formal
adj.
I. very correct/official
VERBS be, seem, sound | become
ADV. extremely, very | strictly Learning was by rote and strictly formal.
almost The greeting was polite, almost formal.
fairly, quite, rather, relatively | oddly Her words sounded oddly formal.
stiffly His manner was stiffly formal.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

formal
II. concerned with the way sth is done
VERBS be
ADV. merely, purely Getting approval for the plan is a purely formal matter: nobody will seriously oppose it.
largely The monarch retains largely formal duties.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

dance an organized social event where people to go dance:
The dance will be held in the school gym.
ball a large formal occasion where people dance:
The University holds a ball at the end of June.
prom a formal dance party for high school students, especially in the US, usually held at the end of a school year:
Who’s your date for the prom?
formal American English a dance at which you must wear formal clothes:
He rented a tuxedo to wear to his company’s holiday formal.
disco a place or social event where people dance to recorded popular music:
She met Nick at a school disco.
club/nightclub a place where people go at night to dance:
We went out for dinner and then to a club.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲