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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formal¹

adj

1. of, according to, or following established or prescribed forms, conventions, etc. a formal document

2. characterized by observation of conventional forms of ceremony, behaviour, dress, etc. a formal dinner

3. methodical, precise, or stiff

4. (Clothing & Fashion) suitable for occasions organized according to conventional ceremony formal dress

5. (Linguistics) denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc., used by educated speakers and writers of a language

6. (Social Science / Education) acquired by study in academic institutions a formal education

7. regular or symmetrical in form a formal garden

8. of or relating to the appearance, form, etc., of something as distinguished from its substance

9. (Philosophy / Logic) logically deductive formal proof

10. (Philosophy) Philosophy

a.  of or relating to form as opposed to matter or content

b.  pertaining to the essence or nature of something formal cause

c.  (in the writings of Descartes) pertaining to the correspondence between an image or idea and its object

d.  being in the formal mode

11. (Linguistics / Grammar) denoting a second-person pronoun in some languages used when the addressee is a stranger, social superior, etc. in French the pronoun ``vous'' is formal, while ``tu'' is informal

[from Latin formālis]

formally  adv

formalness  n

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formal²

n

(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) another name for methylal

[from form(ic) + -al³]

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 He wrote a very formal letter of apology.
serious relaxed, casual, informal, unofficial, laid-back (informal), easy-going, unceremonious

2. official, express, explicit, authorized, set, legal, fixed, regular, approved, strict, endorsed, prescribed, rigid, certified, solemn, lawful, methodical, pro forma (Latin) No formal announcement has been made.

3. ceremonial, traditional, solemn, ritualistic, dressy They arranged a formal dinner after the play.

4. learned, intellectual, literary, scholarly, highbrow an elevated and formal style

5. conventional, established, traditional He didn't have any formal dance training.

6. arranged, regular, symmetrical a formal herb garden

Translations

formal [ˈfɔːməl] ADJ [person] (= correct) → correcto; (= reliable, stiff) → formal; (= solemn) [greeting, language, occasion, announcement] → solemne; [dress] → de etiqueta; [visit] → de cumplido (Pol) [visit] → oficial; [function] → protocolario; [garden] → simétrico; (= official) [evidence] → documental; [acceptance] → por escrito
in English, "residence" is a formal term → en inglés, "residence" es un término formal
don't be so formal! → ¡no te andes con tantos cumplidos!
there was no formal agreement → no había un acuerdo en firme
formal clothes → ropa f de etiqueta
a formal dinner → una cena de gala
he has no formal education → no tiene formación académica
formal training → formación f profesional

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formal [ˈfɔː^rm^əl] adj

[language] → soutenu(e)
In English, "residence" is a formal term → En anglais, "residence" est un terme soutenu.

[letter] → formel(le)

[behaviour] → cérémonieux/euse

[style] → soutenu(e)
formal garden → jardin m à la française

[person] → cérémonieux/euse, à cheval sur les convenances

[dinner] → officiel(le)
a formal dinner → un dîner officiel

(= smart) [occasion, party] → habillé(e)
formal clothes → une tenue habillée

[offer, receipt] → en bonne et due forme; [announcement] → officiel(le); [approval] → officiel(le)

(ART, PHILOSOPHY) → formel(le)

He's got no formal education → Il n'a pas fait beaucoup d'études.

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formal

adj

person, letter, relationship, behaviour, language → formell, förmlich; (= official) talks, statement, complaint, agreement, request → formell, offiziell; (= ceremonial) occasion, reception → feierlich; he made them a formal bow → er verbeugte sich formell or feierlich vor ihnen; to make a formal apology → sich in aller Form entschuldigen; the dinner was very formal → das Abendessen war sehr formell; formal affair or occasion → formeller or feierlicher Anlass; on formal occasions → bei formellen or feierlichen Anlässen; formal clothes or dress (for smart occasions) → Gesellschaftskleidung f; (for work) → formelle Kleidung; in formal dress → formell gekleidet

(= ordered) style, approach → formal; (= severe) → streng; (in design) garden, borders, square → regelmäßig angelegt; room → formal eingerichtet; formal gardens → formal angelegte Gartenanlagen pl

(= proper) education, training → ordentlich; qualifications → offiziell

(= relating to form) logic, perfection, complexity, defect → formal

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formal [ˈfɔːm/əl] adj (gen) → formale; (person) → cerimonioso/a; (official, visit, offer, acceptance) → ufficiale
there was no formal agreement → non c'era un contratto formale
formal garden → giardino all'italiana
formal training → preparazione f specifica

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formal [ˈfɔːm/əl] adj (gen) → formale; (person) → cerimonioso/a; (official, visit, offer, acceptance) → ufficiale
there was no formal agreement → non c'era un contratto formale
formal garden → giardino all'italiana
formal training → preparazione f specifica

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formal

adj formal [ˈfoːməl]

1 done etc according to a fixed and accepted way a formal letter. formeel رَسْمي редовен formální formel; korrekt förmlich τυπικός, σύμφωνος με τους τύπους formal, oficial ametlik, vormiline رسمی muodollinen officiel רִשמִי औपचारिक formalan, služben előírásos, formális resmi formlegur formale 型どおりの 정식의 oficialus formāls; oficiāls rasmi formeel formell, høytidelig oficjalny, urzędowy formal formal, oficial официальный formálny uraden formalan formell ตามธรรมเนียมปฏิบัติ resmî 正式的 формальний روایتی انداز میں کیا گیا trang trọng; theo nghi thức 正式的

2 suitable or correct for occasions when things are done according to a fixed and accepted way You must wear formal dress. formeel رَسْمي официален společenský formel; korrekt konventionell επίσημος de etiqueta, de ceremonia vormikohane رسمی muodollinen de cérémonie/soirée פוֹרמָלִי आकारिक svečan, formalan formális, hivatalos resmi formlegur, hátíðlegur; samkvæmis- formale, da cerimonia 正式の 격식 차린 oficialus oficiāls rasmi formeel formell, fest-(antrekk), galla oficjalny, wieczorowy de cerimónia de seară вечерний spoločenský predpisan, večeren svečan formell, högtids- เป็นกิจจะลักษณะ resmî, törensel 禮儀上的, 合禮儀的 офіційний روایتی حالات کے لۓ مناسب trang trọng 礼仪上的, 合礼仪的

3 (of behaviour, attitude etc) not relaxed and friendly formal behaviour. formeel رَسْمي въздържан obřadný formel; stiv steif τυπικός, συμβατικός (για συμπεριφορά) formal ametlik خشک و مقرراتی jäykkä compassé רִשמִי व्यवहारात्मक ukočen, služben udvariassági, feszes kaku formlegur, stífur formale 堅苦しい 딱딱한 oficialus, šaltas formāls kaku formeel stiv, formell, seremoniell sztywny formal protocolar для проформы formálny tog formalan formell เป็นพิธีการ resmî, ciddî 拘謹的 церемонний پر تکلف trang trọng 拘谨的

4 (of language) exactly correct by grammatical etc rules but not conversational Her English was very formal. formeel رَسْمي правилен граматически но неразговорен formální korrekt; formelt formell επίσημος (για γλώσσα) formal ametlik رسمی virallinen soigné רִשׁמִי औपचारिक služben, birani (izraz), koji pazi na formu formális, hivatalos resmi formlegur, háttfastur formale 形式ばった 문법에 맞는 taisyklingas, knyginis (par valodu) oficiāls rasmi stijf stiv, formell, høytidelig bardzo poprawny, niekolokwialny formal îngrijit, literar официальный skostnatený knjižen zvaničan formell ที่เป็นกฎเกณฑ์ resmî 規範化的 офіційний قواعدی نہ کی عام زبان chính thức; chính thống 规范化的

5 (of designs etc) precise and following a fixed pattern rather than occuring naturally formal gardens. formele رَسْمي، ذو شَكْل ثابِت подреден по специфичен начин geometrický, symetrický anlagt formgerecht συμμετρικός ordenado, simétrico range vormiga طبق قاعده kaavamainen classique צוּרָנִי बंधा-टका formalan, strog dísz- klasik reglulegur simmetrico 形の整った (정원 등이) 모양이 갖추어진 geometriškai išplanuotas, simetriškas regulārs; simetrisks rasmi geometrisch aangelegd formell, seremoniell formalistyczny simétrico simetric правильный; английский geometrický, symetrický urejen pravilan geometrisk regelbunden, symmetrisk เป็นรูปแบบ muntazam, belli, biçimli 佈置得很整齊的 регулярний خوش ترکیب đối xứng 布置得很整齐的

adv formally

formele رَسْميّا тържествено formálně formelt; stift; korrekt formell επίσημα, τυπικά formalmente vormiliselt بطور رسمی muodollisesti cérémonieusement רִשׁמִית औपचारिक रूप से forlano, službeno hivatalosan, szabályszerűen; formailag secara resmi reglulega formalmente 正式に 형식적으로, 정식으로 oficialiai formāli; oficiāli dengan rasmi formeel formelt oficjalnie formalmente (din punct de vedere/în mod) formal официально;формально formálne formalno, navidezno formalno formellt อย่างเป็นกิจจะลักษณะ resmî, resmen 正式地 офіційно; формально پر تکلف انداز میں chính thức 正式地

n forˈmality [-ˈmӕ-]

1 something which is done for appearance but has little meaning The chairman's speech was only a formality. formaliteit إجْراء شَكْلي формалност formalita formalitet die Formalität τυπικότητα formalidad formaalsus تشریفات muodollisuus formalité הָלִיך רִשׁמִי औपचारिकता formalnost formaság formalitas formsatriði formalità 形式的行為 딱딱함 formalumas formalitāte sebagai rasmi formaliteit formalitet, formalisme formalność formalidade formalitate формальность formalita formalnost formalnost formalitet, formsak ธรรมเนียมปฏิบัติ formalite 禮節 формальність تکلف nghi thức; thủ tục 礼节

2 unrelaxed correctness of behaviour His formality made him appear unfriendly. formaliteit سُلوك رَسْمي официалност formálnost, strojenost formalitet; stivhed; afmålthed die Förmlichkeit τυπικότητα συμπεριφοράς formalidad ametlikkus رسمی بودن muodollisuus raideur פוֹרמָלִיוּת लोकाचार službenost, ukočenost szertartásosság kekakuan formlegheit, hátíðleiki formalità, cerimoniosità 堅苦しさ 형식적인 행위 oficialumas, šaltumas formāla izturēšanās kekakuan formaliteit høytidelighet sztywność formalismo pedan­terie педантизм strojenosť, konvenčnosť uradnost formalnost stelhet, formellt uppträdande ความเป็นทางการ resmiyet 拘謹 педантизм آداب و رسوم tính cách nghi thức 拘谨

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formal → عُرفي formální formel formell επίσημος formal muodollinen formel formalan formale 正式の 형식적인 formeel formell formalny formal формальный formell ตามธรรมเนียมปฏิบัติ resmi trịnh trọng 正式的