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Definitions

formal

[fawr-muhl] / ˈfɔr məl /
ADJECTIVE
established, orderly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
academic ceremonial explicit legal precise proper solemn strict
STRONG
express official regular ritual set
WEAK
approved ceremonialistic ceremonious confirmed conventional decorous directed fixed formalistic lawful methodical prescribed pro forma punctilious rigid ritualistic stately stereotyped stereotypical systematic
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ambiguous inaccurate indefinite ordinary
WEAK
customary disorderly informal normal relaxed unaffected
ADJECTIVE
stiff, affected, correct
Synonyms
STRONGEST
polite precise
STRONG
nominal
WEAK
aloof by the numbers ceremonious conventional decorous distant exact playing the game prim punctilious reserved seemly sententious starched stilted straight arrow stuffy unbending
Antonyms
WEAK
customary disorderly informal normal relaxed unaffected

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Until recently it was only possible to make enquiries by making a formal request to the German Archives.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

“Family conversations and formal documents reinforce each other,” Trust & Will concluded.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

If anything, Coop studies people, studies groups of folks and systems, and how informal and formal systems of specific societies interact.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Around 110,000 years ago, formal burial practices began to appear in Israel for the first time anywhere in the world.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Now a military representative called Colonel Bagaev met with Marina Raskova and confirmed that the formal name for her aviation unit would be the 122nd Composite Air Group.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Vocabulary lists containing formal

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Argumentative Writing

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Language and Grammar - Introductory

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