formulaic

adjective

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik 

1

: produced according to a formula or set of formulas : adhering to set forms or conventions

a formulaic response

a movie with a formulaic plot

… much of the will's language was formulaic, in accordance with Venetian customs.

—Laurence Bergreen

The film … uses simple, formulaic storytelling to spin the tale of Bella, a rescued pit bull who makes her way home after a two-year walkabout.

—Katie Walsh

2

: of or relating to a mathematical formula

Those projections prompted the department to evaluate the state tax withholding tables. In September, the department found the formulaic error that had apparently been there, undetected, for at least 15 years.

—Kathryn Palmer

formulaically

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

… his songs still stick formulaically to the surface of pop entertainments.

—David Sargent

The price of admission to local social functions is often expressed formulaically as 'Gentlemen $2, ladies a plate', meaning a plate of scones or the like.

—Robert Burchfield

Synonyms

• apish
• canned
• emulative
• epigonic
• epigonous
• imitative
• mimetic
• mimic
• slavish
• unoriginal

Examples of formulaic in a Sentence

she thought the plots of most action movies were pretty formulaic

Recent Examples on the Web

What unfolds on Crash proves to be anything but formulaic. —Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024

Plus, these cultural reappraisals have become formulaic in their own way. —Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 16 May 2024

After the demon makes short work of the supporting cast, Jack stumbles through a surreal, dream-logic version of Night Owls, jolting from comedy sketches to stupid pet tricks, all of his formulaic late-night segments suddenly taking on a sinister undertone. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024

Despite industry ridicule, his formulaic send-ups made money, among them Women in Cages (1971), The Velvet Vampire (1971) and Night Call Nurses (1972). —Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 2