formal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfȯr-məl How to pronounce formal (audio)
Definition of formalnext
1
as in ceremonial
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules a formal meeting of the board of directors a formal contract that was legally binding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in titular
being something in name or form only was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ceremonious
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details gave her a formal invitation to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dress
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners the dress code is formal for tonight's event a shop that rents out formal wear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in eloquent
very dignified in form, tone, or style the formal language of the coronation ceremony

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

formal

2 of 2

noun

as in dance
a social gathering for dancing he asked her to the formal at the end of the year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word formal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of formal are ceremonial, ceremonious, and conventional. While all these words mean "marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms," formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report
the headmaster's formal manner

How do ceremonial and ceremonious relate to one another, in the sense of formal?

Ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies.

a ceremonial offering

When is ceremonious a more appropriate choice than formal?

While in some cases nearly identical to formal, ceremonious applies to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

When would conventional be a good substitute for formal?

In some situations, the words conventional and formal are roughly equivalent. However, conventional implies accord with general custom and usage and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional courtesy
conventional fiction

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of formal
Adjective
Board chair Lyndsay Quist, who heads the Indiana Department of Transportation, said her agency did some preliminary work when the General Assembly talked this past session about tolling on the state’s expressways but hasn’t submitted a formal request to the federal government yet. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025 Builders need to invest in recruiting as well as developing and delivering training, both formal and on-the-job. —Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
Hell's Kitchen; Here Lies Love, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's exploration of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos' rise and fall in the Philippines; and the adaptation of the 2015 documentary How to Dance in Ohio, about a group of teenagers with autism preparing for a spring formal. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024 Strain went missing on March 8 after being asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink in downtown Nashville while on a trip to the city with the other members of the Delta Chi Fraternity for a spring formal. —Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for formal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formal
  1. ceremonial
  2. titular
  3. ceremonious
  4. eloquent
  5. dance
  6. conventional
  7. nominal
  8. proper
Adjective
  • While the ceremonial aspects of the visit drew attention, the event reinforced Canada’s current position on the world stage and the role of the monarchy in reinforcing that status.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
  • Although White was technically sworn in Tuesday night, a ceremonial swearing-in is set to take place at the June 3 City Council Committee of the Whole meeting.
    — R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Definition of ceremonial
Adjective
  • Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads The titular girl is Jiang Ning (Zhang Zifeng) a fiercely competitive skater who’s been going through a demoralizing period in her training.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • Oscar winners Questlove and Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy winner Billy Porter are joining forces to executive produce I Was Born This Way about Archbishop Carl Bean, the man who performed the titular groundbreaking gay disco anthem in the 1970s.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 27 May 2025
Definition of titular
Adjective
  • Ogden's #75 dons the back of one fan, Kris Prowse, who has opted – on this ceremonious day – to wear the jersey that started it all.
    — Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.
    — Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of ceremonious
Adjective
  • From crafting eloquent emails to optimizing complex logistics, AI offers immense convenience, a smooth handover of mental effort.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • LaBeouf delivers this confession with an eloquent conviction that’s a little uncanny.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 May 2025
Definition of eloquent
Noun
  • Weddings, quilting parties, dances, and all kinds of other occasions found notes of the banjo permeating the air.
    — Essence, Essence, 29 May 2025
  • Students at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, many of whom lost their homes in the January firestorm, were stood up Saturday by limousine service Wize Guy Entertainment, which nonprofit organization Alice’s Kids had paid to transport them to the dance, according to the head of the nonprofit.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of dance
Adjective
  • Though conventional stretch offers the wearer many advantages—like asset enhancing fits and more mobility, for example—the environment pays the price as elastane is, essentially, plastic.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
  • On conventional comedies, actors break from time to time, and those outtakes usually end up in the credits.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Definition of conventional
Adjective
  • The Eagles saved a nominal amount of money after months of negotiations.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • But cheers were somewhat subdued until about 10 minutes after launch—when operators officially determined that the spacecraft’s trajectory was nominal, taking it on a ballistic suborbital path through outer space.
    — Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 28 May 2025
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • But on March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on the proper times.
    — Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
  • Cabinet hardware jigs vary slightly in design, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025
Definition of proper

Browse Nearby Words

form
formal
formalistic
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Cite this Entry

“Formal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formal. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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