formal

adjective
UK: /ˈfɔːməl/
US: /ˈfɔːrməl/

  1. Following rules or customs, often in an exact and proper way.

    1. It was a very formal party, everyone dressed elegantly, a formal dinner. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company has a formal complaint procedure and must be submitted to HR, is formal. [ ] [ ]

  2. Official, following accepted rules or standards.

    1. We made a formal request, is formal, it needs a real stamp. [ ] [ ]
    2. The wedding invitation was very formal, gold lettering and fancy paper, so formal. [ ] [ ]

  3. A style of language suitable for serious or official situations.

    1. Use formal language, it's formal, write to the boss like that. [ ] [ ]
    2. The essay required a formal tone, excluding slang and contractions, so formal. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

official ceremonial conventional stuffy exact precise elegant courtly
formal noun

  1. An event where people dress elegantly and follow strict rules of behavior.

    1. It was a formal, I went to a formal last year, in fancy dress. [ ] [ ]
    2. The school's annual formal is always the highlight of the social calendar, is formal. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "formal" in English means: Following rules or customs, often in an exact and proper way., Official, following accepted rules or standards., A style of language suitable for serious or official situations..

The phonetic transcription of "formal" is /ˈfɔːməl/ in British English and /ˈfɔːrməl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "formal": official, ceremonial, conventional, stuffy, exact, precise, elegant, courtly.

Example usage of "formal": "It was a very formal party, everyone dressed elegantly, a formal dinner.". More examples on the page.