formaladjective
uk/ˈfɔː.məl/us/ˈfɔːr.məl/formal adjective (OFFICIAL)
C1 public or official:
in appearance or by name only:
More examples
- They wanted to make a formal complaint about their doctor.
- The US lodged a formal protest against the arrest of the foreign reporters.
- My client accepts the formal apology without prejudice to any further legal action she may decide to take.
- A formal protest was made by the German team about their disqualification from the relay final.
- Most modern kings and queens rule their countries only in a formal way, without real power.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Accepting & agreeing
- accept
- accredited
- assent
- be ruled by sb idiom
- buy-in
- conclude
- countenance
- court
- embrace
- gauntlet
- leap
- listen to reason idiom
- middle ground
- mustn't grumble idiom
- pounce
- reach
- signatory
- swallow
- take sb up on sth
- unquestioning
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
formal adjective (SERIOUS)
B2 Formal language, clothes, and behaviour are suitable for serious or official occasions:
More examples
- Is it considered improper to wear such a short skirt to a formal occasion?
- It's incorrect to address people by their first names at these formal events.
- His casual behaviour was wholly inappropriate for such a formal occasion.
- He writes in a formal and rather stilted style.
- My clothes for work tend to be quite formal.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Manners & levels of formality
- buttoned-down
- ceremonial
- ceremonious
- ceremony
- decency
- formally
- genteel
- gentility
- grace
- ground rules
- impropriety
- not the done thing idiom
- propriety
- pukka
- refinement
- solemnity
- stand on ceremony idiom
- stiff
- valediction
- valedictory
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formal adjective (EDUCATION)
C1 Formal education or training is received in a school or college:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Types of education
- adult education
- apprenticeship
- blended learning
- child-centred
- coeducation
- consciousness-raising
- continuing education
- e-learning
- educational
- educative
- further education
- heuristic
- higher
- mainstream
- mixed-ability
- nursery
- remedial
- scholarship
- secondary
- vocational
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formal adjective (GARDEN)
A formal garden is carefully designed and kept according to a plan, and it is not allowed to grow naturally.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Gardens & yards
- allotment
- arboretum
- backyard
- barnyard
- boatyard
- cloister
- cloistered
- compound
- court
- courtyard
- farmyard
- forecourt
- formally
- garden
- ground
- junkyard
- precinct
- quad
- roof garden
- yard
formalnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈfɔː.məl/us/ˈfɔːr.məl/a dance at which women wear fashionable, expensive dresses and men wear tuxedos or similar clothes
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Celebrations, parties & special occasions
- a night on the town idiom
- a/the gathering of the clans idiom
- afterparty
- April Fool's Day
- bachelor party
- fayre
- feast
- fest
- festival
- festive
- fundraiser
- Mother's Day
- New Year's Eve
- night
- nightclubbing
- nightlife
- occasion
- prom
- rave
- Valentine's Day
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