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Formal behavior follows the proper forms or customs, and informal behavior feels free to ignore them. The formality of a dinner party is indicated by such formalities as invitations, required dress, and full table settings. Legal formalities, or technicalities, may turn out to be all-important even if they often seem minor. America requires fewer formalities than many other countries (in Germany, for example, you may know someone for years before using his or her first name), but even in relaxed situations Americans may be observing invisible formalities.
Examples of formality in a Sentence
Escher Walcott, People.com, 21 July 2025
The carrier handles customs formalities, pays the import VAT, and clears the goods.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
This not only reduces the stress of the airport experience but also drastically reduces the amount of time needed to complete formalities and get to the terminal.
—Michele Robson, Fortune, 5 July 2025
After hosting the Tony Awards, Cynthia Erivo and crew headed to the Russian Tea Room in New York, where award winners and celebrities decided to shed the formalities of the evening and skip to the celebration.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formality. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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formality
noun
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