formal

== English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”); equivalent to form +‎ -al. ==== Pronunciation ==== (General American) IPA(key): /ˈfɔɹməl/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfɔːməl/ Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)məl Hyphenation: for‧mal ==== Adjective ==== formal (comparative more formal, superlative most formal) In accordance with established forms. Official. Relating to the form or structure of something. Relating to formation. Ceremonial or traditional. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual. Organized; well-structured and planned. (especially sciences, mathematics, linguistics) In accordance with a methodological framework with well-defined rules or laws; rigorous. (mathematics, philosophy) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning. ===== Antonyms ===== informal ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== form ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals) (clothing) An evening gown. An event with a formal dress code. (programming) A formal parameter. (Oxbridge slang) Ellipsis of formal hall. ===== Derived terms ===== formal swap === Etymology 2 === See formo-. ==== Noun ==== formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals) (uncountable) Formalin. An acetal formed from formaldehyde. ===== Related terms ===== hemiformal ===== Translations ===== === Further reading === “formal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “formal”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === Folmar == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central) [furˈmal] IPA(key): (Balearic) [forˈmal] IPA(key): (Valencia) [foɾˈmal] === Adjective === formal m or f (masculine and feminine plural formals) formal Antonym: informal ==== Derived terms ==== formalitzar formalment informal ==== Related terms ==== forma formalitat === Further reading === “formal”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “formal”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 “formal” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. “formal” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962. == Crimean Tatar == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin formalis, from forma (“form”). === Adjective === formal formal === References === Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002), Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎[1], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN == Galician == === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Latin formalis. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /foɾˈmal/ ==== Noun ==== formal m (plural formais) site, plot 1290, M. Lucas Álvarez P. Lucas Domínguez (eds.), El monasterio de San Clodio do Ribeiro en la Edad Media: estudio y documentos. Sada / A Coruña: Edicións do Castro, page 415: Synonym: sesego foundation, ruin mould for the production of tiles === Etymology 2 === Learned borrowing from Latin formalis. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /foɾˈmal/ ==== Adjective ==== formal m or f (plural formais) formal ===== Derived terms ===== formalmente ===== Related terms ===== forma formalidade informal ===== Further reading ===== “formal”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 === References === Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “formal”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “formal”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “formal”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “formal”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “formal”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN == German == === Etymology === Form +‎ -al === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /fɔʁˈmaːl/ Rhymes: -aːl === Adjective === formal (strong nominative masculine singular formaler, comparative formaler, superlative am formalsten) formal (being in accord with established forms) ==== Usage notes ==== Not to be confused with formell. The adjectives formell and informell express the presence or absence of ceremonies: ein informelles Treffen is a meeting in a near-private context. The adjective formal stresses the outward appearance (pro forma) as opposed to the content or the spirit. ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “formal” in Duden online “formal” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache == Indonesian == === Adjective === formal (comparative lebih formal, superlative paling formal) formal ==== Alternative forms ==== formil == Malay == === Etymology === Borrowed from English formal, from Middle English formel, from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈfɔ(r)məl/ [ˈfɔ(r).məl], /ˈfo(r)mal/ [ˈfo(r).mal] Rhymes: -əl, -al Hyphenation: for‧mal === Adjective === formal (Jawi spelling فورمل, comparative lebih formal, superlative paling formal) Formal: Antonym: informal Being in accord with established forms. Official. Synonym: rasmi Ceremonial or traditional. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual. Antonym: kasual ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === "formal" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017 == Piedmontese == === Etymology === From Latin formalis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /furˈmal/ Rhymes: -al === Adjective === formal formal == Portuguese == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin fōrmālis. By surface analysis, forma +‎ -al. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw Hyphenation: for‧mal === Adjective === formal m or f (plural formais) formal (being in accord with established forms) formal (official) formal (relating to the form or structure of something) formal (ceremonial) (logic) formal (involving mere manipulations of symbols) ==== Derived terms ==== formalmente === Further reading === “formal”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “formal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913 “formal”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French formel, Latin formalis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /forˈmal/ === Adjective === formal m or n (feminine singular formală, masculine plural formali, feminine/neuter plural formale) formal ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== formalitate == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin formālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /foɾˈmal/ [foɾˈmal] Rhymes: -al Syllabification: for‧mal === Adjective === formal m or f (masculine and feminine plural formales) formal reliable, dependable ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== forma informal informalidad informalmente ==== Further reading ==== “formal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025