formal

From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin formalis, from forma (“form”); see form.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹməl/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːməl/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)məl
• Hyphenation: for‧mal

• Audio (US)

  (file)

formal (comparative more formal, superlative most formal)

1. Being in accord with established forms.

   She spoke formal English, without any dialect.

2. Official.

   I'd like to make a formal complaint.

3. Relating to the form or structure of something.

   Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.

   • 1978, Heikki Seppä, Form Emphasis for Metalsmiths, [Kent, Oh.]: Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 1:

     THE THREE DOMINANT FORMS IN METALSMITHING […] At present, there are but three basic volumetric forms dominating the work of metalsmiths, the spherical (usually in its most practical form, the domical), the cylindrical, and the cubical. […] The possibilities for further variations on them are all but exhausted, there being little chance to express new and unusual ideas within the framework of such limited choices. As a result, much of twentieth-century metalsmithing has relied on surface enrichment rather than formal development for its originality.

4. Relating to formation.

   The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.

5. Ceremonial or traditional.

   Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!

6. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.

   He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.

7. Organized; well-structured and planned.

   When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.

8. (mathematics) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.

   Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.

• informal

• form

formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals)

1. (uncountable) Formalin.
2. An evening gown.
3. An event with a formal dress code.

   Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.

4. (programming) A formal parameter.

• formal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• formal in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• Folmar

Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis.

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /furˈmal/

formal (masculine and feminine plural formals)

1. formal

• formalment
• informal

• forma
• formalitat

• “formal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Borrowed from Latin formalis, from forma (“form”).

formal

1. formal

• Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎, Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

Inherited from Latin formalis.

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/

formal m (plural formais)

1. 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:

     damos a uos que tenades de nos essa cassa en que uos ora morades en Eyres, con seu saydo et con todo o formal dessa casa, asi como esta çerrada de muro ao tenpo da era desta carta.

     we give you, for you to have, that house where you now dwell in Eires, with its garden and with the whole plot of that house, as it is enclosed with a wall at the time of this charter

2. foundation, ruin
3. mould for the production of tiles

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

• IPA^(key): /foɾˈmal/

formal m or f (plural formais)

1. formal

• formalmente

• forma
• formalidade
• informal

• “formal” in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega, Royal Galician Academy.

• “formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006-2012.
• “formal” in Xavier Varela Barreiro & Xavier Gómez Guinovart: Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval. SLI / Grupo TALG / ILG, 2006-2016.
• “formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006-2013.
• “formal” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
• “formal” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.

Form +‎ -al

• IPA^(key): /fɔʁˈmaːl/
• Rhymes: -aːl

• Audio

  (file)

formal (comparative formaler, superlative am formalsten)

1. formal (being in accord with established forms)

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.

• formal in Duden online

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /foʁˈmaw/
• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /fuɾˈmal/
• Hyphenation: for‧mal

formal m or f (plural formais, comparable)

1. formal (being in accord with established forms)
2. formal (official)
3. formal (relating to the form or structure of something)
4. formal (ceremonial)
5. (logic) formal (involving mere manipulations of symbols)

• formal in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

Borrowed from French formel, Latin formalis.

• IPA^(key): /forˈmal/

formal m or n (feminine singular formală, masculine plural formali, feminine and neuter plural formale)

1. formal

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

• IPA^(key): /forˈmal/
• Hyphenation: for‧mal

formal (plural formales)

1. formal

• formalmente

• forma
• formalidad
• informal

• “formal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.