formal
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.used for serious or official situations where you must follow strict rules.
adj.relating to official or serious occasions where strict adherence to rules or etiquette is required.
Simple“You should wear a formal suit to the job interview tomorrow.”
In context“The ambassador received a formal invitation to the state dinner, requiring a response within forty-eight hours.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.officially recognized or made legal through a set process.
adj.having a recognized, legal, or official status through a prescribed procedure.
Simple“The two companies have not yet signed a formal agreement.”
In context“The board of directors issued a formal statement regarding the merger to reassure the shareholders of the company's long-term stability.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.following a clear structure or a set of logical rules.
adj.relating to the structure, form, or logical framework of something rather than its content.
Simple“The student used a formal method to solve the math problem.”
In context“The researcher employed a formal logic framework to ensure the conclusions were mathematically sound and reproducible by other teams.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a dance or party where people wear very smart clothes.
n.a social event, such as a dance or dinner, that requires a formal dress code.
Simple“She bought a beautiful new dress for the winter formal.”
In context“The university's annual winter formal was held in the grand ballroom, attracting hundreds of students in black-tie attire.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a long, elegant dress worn to a special event.
n.an elegant evening gown or dress suitable for formal occasions.
Simple“The shop specializes in selling formals for high school proms.”
In context“The boutique displayed a collection of silk formals in the window, each hand-beaded for the upcoming gala season.”
Synonymsgownevening dress
Usage formal investigation · formal peace · formal analysis
From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”); equivalent to form + -al.
See formo-.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.