formal Synonyms
Another word for formal
• adjective (Context 1)
Done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for or constituting an official or important situation or occasion.
"The guests were asked to wear ceremonial attire to the charity gala."
• adjective (Context 2)
Officially sanctioned, recognized, or structured, rather than casual or ad hoc.
"Although she had little official training in art, her paintings were remarkably skilled."
• adjective (Context 3)
Stiff, reserved, or overly methodical in manner or behavior; lacking warmth or spontaneity.
"His greeting was polite but decidedly stiff, keeping the visitors at arm's length."
• adjective (Context 4)
Relating to outward form, structure, or logical arrangement as distinguished from content or substance.
"The critic focused on the structural elements of the poem, such as its meter and rhyme scheme."
• noun (Context 5)
A social event, dance, or dinner requiring formal attire such as evening gowns or tuxedos.
"The university students bought tickets for the spring ball at the grand hotel."
• noun (Context 6)
An evening gown or other garment worn for a formal occasion.
"She spent the afternoon shopping for a floor-length gown to wear to the banquet."
Opposites of formal
The opposite of formal shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: