: compliance with formal or conventional rules : ceremony
2
: the quality or state of being formal
3
: an established form or procedure that is required or conventional
the interview was just a formality
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Formal behavior follows the proper forms or customs, and informal behavior feels free to ignore them. The formality of a dinner party is indicated by such formalities as invitations, required dress, and full table settings. Legal formalities, or technicalities, may turn out to be all-important even if they often seem minor. America requires fewer formalities than many other countries (in Germany, for example, you may know someone for years before using his or her first name), but even in relaxed situations Americans may be observing invisible formalities.
Her use of old-fashioned language lends an air of formality to her writing.
He failed to appreciate the formality of the occasion.
They haven't approved the loan yet, but that's just a mere formality.
Recent Examples on the WebNamibia? June 11, 2024 That meant capturing a moment when the world was turning away from formality, while areas like southern Italy still reflected class divisions.—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024 Her stark formality represents her initiation into Palm Beach high society, further exemplified by her diamond tiara and silk opera gloves.—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 June 2024 At a time when few, if any, bills are able to be freely amended on the floor, much of the debate felt like archaic formalities carried out for tradition’s sake.—Ben Jacobs, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024 Exactly why deposit copies have gone from obscure legal formalities to hot topics in some of the biggest music lawsuits of the last decade is unclear.—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for formality
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'formality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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