formal

for·mal  (fôrml)

adj.

1.

a. Relating to or involving outward form or structure.

b. Being or relating to essential form or constitution: a formal principle.

2.

a. Following or being in accord with accepted forms, conventions, or regulations: had little formal education; went to a formal party.

b. Executed, carried out, or done in proper or regular form: a formal reprimand; a formal document.

3.

a. Characterized by strict or meticulous observation of forms; methodical: very formal in their business transactions.

b. Stiffly ceremonious: a formal manner; a formal greeting; a formal bow to the monarch.

4. Having the outward appearance but lacking in substance: a formal requirement that is usually ignored.

n.

Something, such as a gown or social affair, that is formal in nature.

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[Middle English, from Latin frmlis, from frma, shape.]

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formal·ly adv.

formal·ness n.

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formal

Adjective

1. of or following established conventions: formal talks, a formal announcement

2. characterized by conventional forms of ceremony and behaviour: a small formal dinner party

3. suitable for occasions organized according to conventional ceremony: formal cocktail frocks

4. methodical and organized: a formal approach

5. (of education and training) given officially at a school, college, etc.: he had no formal training in maths

6. symmetrical in form: a formal garden

7. relating to the form or structure of something as distinguished from its substance or content: they addressed the formal elements of the structure of police work

8. Philosophy logically deductive rather than based on facts and observation [Latin formalis]

formally adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	formal - a lavish dance requiring formal attire ball dance - a party for social dancing cotilion, cotillion - a ball at which young ladies are presented to society fancy-dress ball, masked ball, masquerade ball - a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks prom, promenade - a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year
	2.	formal - a gown for evening wear dinner dress, dinner gown, evening gown evening clothes, evening dress, eveningwear, formalwear - attire to wear on formal occasions in the evening gown - a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
Adj.	1.	formal - being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); "pay one's formal respects"; "formal dress"; "a formal ball"; "the requirement was only formal and often ignored"; "a formal education" conventional - following accepted customs and proprieties; "conventional wisdom"; "she had strayed from the path of conventional behavior"; "conventional forms of address" formal - (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" informal - not formal; "conservative people unaccustomed to informal dress"; "an informal free-and-easy manner"; "an informal gathering of friends"
	2.	formal - characteristic of or befitting a person in authority; "formal duties"; "an official banquet" official - having official authority or sanction; "official permission"; "an official representative"
	3.	formal - (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" formal - being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); "pay one's formal respects"; "formal dress"; "a formal ball"; "the requirement was only formal and often ignored"; "a formal education" rhetorical - given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought; "mere rhetorical frippery" informal - used of spoken and written language
	4.	formal - represented in simplified or symbolic form schematic, conventional beaux arts, fine arts - the study and creation of visual works of art nonrepresentational - of or relating to a style of art in which objects do not resemble those known in physical nature
	5.	formal - logically deductive; "formal proof" logical - capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning; "a logical mind"
	6.	formal - refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court; "a courtly gentleman" courtly, stately dignified - having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance; "her dignified demeanor"; "the director of the school was a dignified white-haired gentleman"

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formal

adjective 1. serious, stiff, detached, aloof, official, reserved, correct, conventional, remote, exact, precise, starched, prim, unbending, punctilious, ceremonious << OPPOSITE informal

adjective 2. official, express, explicit, authorized, set, legal, fixed, regular, approved, strict, endorsed, prescribed, rigid, certified, solemn, lawful, methodical, pro forma (Latin)

adjective 3. ceremonial, traditional, solemn, ritualistic, dressy

adjective 4. conventional, established, traditional

Translations

formal [ˈfɔːməl] adj [offer, receipt] → por escrito; [person etc] → correcto; [occasion, dinner] → ceremonioso;

formal dress → traje m de vestir (= evening dress); traje m de etiqueta

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formal [ˈfɔːməl] adj [offer, receipt] → en bonne et due forme; [person] → cérémonieux/euse, à cheval sur les convenances; [occasion, dinner] → officiel(le); [garden] → à la française;

(Art, Philosophy) → formel(le); [clothes] → de soirée

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formal [ˈfɔːməl] adj → offiziell;

(person, behaviour) → förmlich, formell;

(occasion, dinner) → feierlich;

(clothes) → Gesellschafts-;

(garden) → formell angelegt;

(Art, Philosophy) → formal;

formal dress → Gesellschaftskleidung f

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formal [ˈfɔːməl] adj [offer, receipt] → vero/a e proprio/a; [person] → cerimonioso/a; [occasion, dinner] → formale, ufficiale;

(ART, PHILOSOPHY) → formale;

formal dress → abito da cerimonia (= evening dress); abito da sera