Definitions for formal
ˈfɔr məlfor·mal

Princeton's WordNet(2.31 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ball, formal(noun)

   a lavish dance requiring formal attire

2. dinner dress, dinner gown, formal, evening gown(adj)

   a gown for evening wear

3. formal(adj)

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

   "pay one's formal respects"; "formal dress"; "a formal ball"; "the requirement was only formal and often ignored"; "a formal education"

4. formal(adj)

   characteristic of or befitting a person in authority

   "formal duties"; "an official banquet"

5. formal(adj)

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

   "the paper was written in formal English"

6. conventional, formal, schematic(adj)

   represented in simplified or symbolic form

7. formal(adj)

   logically deductive

   "formal proof"

8. courtly, formal, stately(adj)

   refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court

   "a courtly gentleman"

Wiktionary(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. formal(Noun)

   formalin

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

2. formal(Noun)

   an evening gown

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

3. formal(Noun)

   an event with a formal dress code

   Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

4. formal(Adjective)

   being in accord with established forms

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

5. formal(Adjective)

   official

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

6. formal(Adjective)

   relating to the form or structure of something

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

7. formal(Adjective)

   ceremonial

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

8. formal(Adjective)

   Organized; well-structured and planned.

   Etymology: From formel, from formel, from formalis, from forma; see form.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Formal(noun)

   see Methylal

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

2. Formal(adj)

   belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

3. Formal(adj)

   belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

4. Formal(adj)

   done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

5. Formal(adj)

   devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

6. Formal(adj)

   having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

7. Formal(adj)

   dependent in form; conventional

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

8. Formal(adj)

   sound; normal

   Etymology: [L. formic + alcohol.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Formal

   Formal Hall or Formal Meal is the meal held at some of the oldest, universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland at which students dress in formal attire and often gowns to dine. These are held commonly in the colleges of, for examples, Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, Durham and St Andrews, as well as the University of London, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and Trinity College, Toronto. In a number of red brick universities, some halls such as those in at Manchester, Bristol and Exeter also practise similar traditions in order to increase interaction between academics and students, and to enrich the students' overall learning experience. The nature of Formals varies widely between the colleges and halls that hold them. In some colleges, Formals may be held every night, and are simply a second sitting of hall at which gowns are worn and grace is read. In other colleges, Formals may be special events to which guests from outside the college are frequently invited, often with themes and associated ents or "bops". In between these two extremes fall the great majority of colleges.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. formal

   A form of legal authority.

   Formal authority is required for certain things in life.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 5, 2015  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'formal' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1597

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'formal' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2780

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'formal' in Adjectives Frequency: #199

How to pronounce formal?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say formal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of formal in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of formal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of formal in a Sentence

1. Anu Rangappa:

   We’re tracking media reports about the proposed parade and will have more to say when formal outreach begins, in the meantime, we do know that just like the wall, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser will have to pay for it.

2. Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss:

   Malaysian and French officials may be in a position to make a formal statement about the origin of the flaperon later this week.

3. Michelle Arries:

   We wanted to come to a semi-formal setting. And this space is particularly for the person who wants something different.

4. Vladimir Putin:

   If you have( an economic) decoupling between the United States and The Chinese in a globalized world, you want to have more allies on your side than on the other side, even if Vladimir Putin're not formal allies but countries that are willing to work with you.

5. Julie Nicholls:

   There was never a formal order.

Images & Illustrations of formal

Popularity rank by frequency of use