formal

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈfɔɹməl/ UK /ˈfɔːməl/ See IPA manual

Freq #5013

Meanings

1

adj
Following accepted rules of polite or official behaviour, dress, or language.

The wedding was a very formal occasion.
2

adj
Official and done in a serious, public way.

I'd like to make a formal complaint.
3

adj
Of language, careful and correct, not casual or conversational.

The report was written in formal English.

Thesaurus

Opposites

informal

Word family

Derived forms essive-formalformaleseformalesqueformalishformalism formalist formalityformalizationformalize formally formalnessformalwear

Related forms formhemiformal

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

formal letter
a letter written in an official, professional style

Adjective + noun
formal dinner
an official or ceremonial evening meal with dress code and etiquette

Adjective + noun
formal wear
clothing appropriate for formal occasions such as weddings or ceremonies

Adjective + noun
formal attire
clothes suited to an official, ceremonial, or particularly smart occasion

Adjective + noun

Etymology

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

formel Middle English fōrmālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Language & Linguistics Register & Style

External links

# formal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈfɔɹməl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfɔːməl/
**Frequency rank:** 5013

## Meanings
1. Following accepted rules of polite or official behaviour, dress, or language.
2. Official and done in a serious, public way.
3. Of language, careful and correct, not casual or conversational.

## Examples
- The wedding was a very formal occasion.
- I'd like to make a formal complaint.
- The report was written in formal English.

## Antonyms
- informal

## Derived Forms
- essive-formal
- formalese
- formalesque
- formalish
- formalism
- formalist
- formality
- formalization
- formalize
- formally
- formalness
- formalwear

## Related Forms
- form
- hemiformal

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: formel
- Root: fōrmālis

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

## AI Etymology
Formal comes from Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”); equivalent to form + -al. In current use, the main senses are “Following accepted rules of polite or official behaviour, dress, or language” and “Official and done in a serious, public way”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Language & Linguistics
- Register & Style

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