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formal

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: formál and formål

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology 1

From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”); equivalent to form +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

Adjective

formal (comparative more formal, superlative most formal)

  1. In accordance with established forms.
    She spoke formal English, without any dialect.
  2. Official.
    I'd like to make a formal complaint.
    Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake.”
  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. (especially sciences, mathematics, linguistics) In accordance with a methodological framework with well-defined rules or laws; rigorous.
    A set of words can be formal cognates only if they can be derived from a common ancestor by regular sound laws.
    Only formal proofs, which derive theorems logically from their given axioms, are considered satisfactory in modern mathematics.
  9. (mathematics, philosophy) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.
    Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun

formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals)

  1. (clothing) An evening gown.
    • 1965, Shadow Morton, “Sophisticated Boom Boom”, performed by The Shangri-Las:
      Well, I open up the door / And much to my surprise / The girls were wearin' formals / And the boys were wearin' ties
  2. An event with a formal dress code.
    Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.
  3. (programming) A formal parameter.
  4. (Oxbridge slang) Ellipsis of formal hall.
Derived terms

Etymology 2

See formo-.

Noun

formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals)

  1. (uncountable) Formalin.
  2. An acetal formed from formaldehyde.
Translations

Further reading

Anagrams

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Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

formal m or f (masculine and feminine plural formals)

  1. formal
    Antonym: informal

Derived terms

Further reading

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Crimean Tatar

Etymology

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

Adjective

formal

  1. formal

References

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

Galician

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

Noun

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

Etymology 2

Learned borrowing from Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

formal m or f (plural formais)

  1. formal
Derived terms
Further reading

References

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German

Etymology

Form +‎ -al

Pronunciation

Adjective

formal (strong nominative masculine singular formaler, comparative formaler, superlative am formalsten)

  1. 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

Positive forms of formal
More information number & gender, singular ...
Comparative forms of formal
More information number & gender, singular ...
Superlative forms of formal
More information number & gender, singular ...

Further reading

  • “formal” in Duden online
  • “formal” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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Indonesian

Adjective

formal (plural formal-formal)

  1. formal

Alternative forms

Malay

Etymology

From English formal, from Middle English formel, from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [fɔ(r).məl], [fo(r).mal]
  • Rhymes: -əl, -al
  • Hyphenation: for‧mal

Adjective

formal (Jawi spelling فورمل)

  1. Formal:
    Antonym: informal
    1. Being in accord with established forms.
    2. Official.
      Synonym: rasmi
    3. Ceremonial or traditional.
    4. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.
      Antonym: kasual

Affixations

Further reading

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Piedmontese

Etymology

From Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

formal

  1. 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)

  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)

Derived terms

Further reading

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

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French formel, Latin formalis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

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

  1. formal

Declension

More information singular, plural ...
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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)

  1. formal
  2. reliable, dependable

Derived terms

Further reading

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