Formal meaning

What does “formal” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“formal” is a noun and adjective with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a lavish dance requiring formal attire.

formal

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
“pay one's formal respects”
“formal dress”
Oppositesinformal
characteristic of or befitting a person in authority
“formal duties”
“an official banquet”
(of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms
“the paper was written in formal English”
Oppositesinformal
represented in simplified or symbolic form
Synonymsconventional schematic
logically deductive
“formal proof”
refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court
“a courtly gentleman”
Synonymscourtly stately

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University