formal
Listen:Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
formal/ˈfɔːml/
▶adjective
- 1 done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette.
■ having a conventionally recognized form, structure, or set of rules: he had little formal education.
■ of or denoting a style of writing or public speaking characterized by more elaborate grammatical structures and more conservative and technical vocabulary.
- 2 officially recognized: a formal complaint.
- 3 of or concerned with outward form rather than content.
■ having a form or appearance but no true function: the committee stage would be purely formal.
■ relating to linguistic or logical form as opposed to function or meaning.
■ an occasion on which evening dress is worn.
– derivatives
formally adverb.
formally adverb.
'formal' also found in these Oxford entries:
abjure
- ablution
- abnegate
- abode
- abominate
- abrogate
- absolution
- academic
- academical
- academicism
- accede
- accession
- according
- Acmeist
- address
- adhibit
- adjudicate
- adjure
- ad libitum
- ad personam
- ad rem
- adumbrate
- advert
- advice
- aet.
- affirm
- afflatus
- alap
- alight
- alimentation
- allée
- allocution
- alright
- alterity
- although
- ambulate
- ameliorate
- amity
- anathema
- anglice
- animadvert
- announce
- annuitant
- annunciation
- anterior
- apodictic
- apologetic
- apologia
- apology
- apparel
