English dictionary



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English adjective: formal

1. formal being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)


SamplesPay one's formal respects.
Formal dress.
A formal ball.
The requirement was only formal and often ignored.
A formal education.


Similarblack-tie, buckram, ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, dress, dress, form-only, full-dress, full-dress, nominal, perfunctory, positive, prescribed, pro forma, semi-formal, semiformal, starchy, stiff, titular, white-tie


See alsoconventional, formal


Attributeformality, formalness


Antonymsinformal

2. formal characteristic of or befitting a person in authority


SamplesFormal duties.
An official banquet.


Similarofficial


Antonymsunofficial

3. formal (of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms


SamplesThe paper was written in formal English.


Similarliterary


See alsoformal, rhetorical


Attributeformality, formalness


Antonymsinformal

4. formal represented in simplified or symbolic form


Synonymsconventional, schematic


Similarnonrepresentational


Domain categorybeaux arts, fine arts


Antonymsrepresentational

5. formal logically deductive


SamplesFormal proof.


Similarlogical


Antonymsillogical, unlogical

6. formal refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court


SamplesA courtly gentleman.


Synonymscourtly, stately


Similardignified


Antonymsundignified


English noun: formal

1. formal (event) a lavish dance requiring formal attire


Synonymsball


Broader (hypernym)dance


Narrower (hyponym)cotilion, cotillion, fancy-dress ball, masked ball, masquerade ball, prom, promenade

2. formal (artifact) a gown for evening wear


Synonymsdinner dress, dinner gown, evening gown


Broader (hypernym)evening clothes, evening dress, eveningwear, formalwear, gown









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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