formally

English

Etymology

From formal +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔː.mə.li/, /ˈfɔːm.li/

  • Audio (London):

    (file)

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹ.mə.li/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈfoː.mə.li/
• Homophone: formerly (non-rhotic)

Adverb

formally (comparative more formally, superlative most formally)

1. In a formal manner.

   He was dressed too formally for the occasion.

2. In accordance with official procedure.

   He formally filed a complaint, which involved much paperwork.

   • 2025 July 28, Steve Contorno, “Project 2025 architect Paul Dans to challenge Lindsey Graham for Senate in South Carolina”, in CNN‎:

     Dans told CNN he will formally launch his campaign with a prayer breakfast Wednesday in Charleston.

3. In accordance with rigorous rules.

   He proved it formally but gave his students no intuitive feel for the matter.

Antonyms

• informally

Derived terms

• unformally

Translations

in a formal manner

Bulgarian: формално (bg) (formalno) Catalan: formalment (ca) Czech: formálně (cs) Dutch: formeel (nl) Finnish: muodollisesti (fi), virallisesti (fi), juhlallisesti (fi), formaalisti (fi) French: formellement (fr) Galician: formalmente (gl) Italian: formalmente (it) Portuguese: formalmente Russian: форма́льно (ru) (formálʹno) Spanish: formalmente (es)

in accordance with official procedure

Afrikaans: formeel Bulgarian: официално (bg) (oficialno) Catalan: formalment (ca) Czech: formálně (cs) Dutch: formeel (nl) Finnish: virallisesti (fi), muodollisesti (fi) Italian: ufficialmente (it) Spanish: formalmente (es)

in accordance with rigorous rules

Afrikaans: formeel Bulgarian: формално (bg) (formalno) Catalan: formalment (ca) Czech: formálně (cs) Dutch: formeel (nl) Finnish: formaalisti (fi) Italian: rigorosamente (it) Spanish: formalmente (es)

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

Esperanto: (please verify) formale (eo)

See also

• officially