noun
Meaning 1
The state of being formal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
formality
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/fɔːrˈmælɪti/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ælɪti
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CMU ARPABET: F AO0 R M AE1 L AH0 T IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
Something said or done as a matter of form.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A customary ritual without substance, real consequence, or unique meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
- The examination for priesthood is no mere formality, so we have to study well.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A specific requirement for obtaining a legal status, conducting a transaction, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
compliance with formal rules
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- courtroom formality
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conformity, conformation, compliance, abidance
noun
Meaning 6
a manner that strictly observes all forms and ceremonies
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the formality of his voice made the others pay him close attention
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: formalness
Antonyms: informality
Broader terms: manner, personal manner
Narrower terms: ceremoniousness, stateliness
noun
Meaning 7
a requirement of etiquette or custom
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a mere formality
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: formalities
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ceremony, ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, observance
History
Etymology
From Middle French formalité. equivalent to formal + -ity.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: формализъм (formalizǎm) — The state of being formal
- Catalan: formalitat — The state of being formal
- Catalan: formalisme — The state of being formal
- Czech: formálnost — The state of being formal
- Danish: formalitet — The state of being formal
- Danish: højtidelighed — The state of being formal
- Danish: stivhed — The state of being formal
- French: formalité — The state of being formal
- Galician: formalidade — The state of being formal
- Georgian: ფორმალურობა (pormaluroba) — The state of being formal
- Irish: foirmiúlacht — The state of being formal
- Norwegian Bokmål: formalitet — The state of being formal
- Norwegian Nynorsk: formalitet — The state of being formal
- Russian: форма́льность (formálʹnostʹ) — The state of being formal
- Spanish: formalidad — The state of being formal
- Swedish: formalitet — The state of being formal
- Turkish: formalite — The state of being formal
- Turkish: ciddiyet — The state of being formal
- Turkish: resmiyet — The state of being formal
- Turkish: sizlibizlilik — The state of being formal
- Ukrainian: форма́льність (formálʹnistʹ) — The state of being formal
- Esperanto: formalaĵo — Something said or done as a matter of form
- Swedish: formalitet — Something said or done as a matter of form
- Arabic: شَكْلِيَّة (šakliyya) — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Czech: formalita — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Czech: formálnost — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- German: Formalität — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Polish: formalność — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Swedish: formalitet — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Ukrainian: форма́льність (formálʹnistʹ) — A customary ritual without new or unique meaning
- Catalan: formalitat — specific requirement
- Czech: formalita — specific requirement
- Czech: formálnost — specific requirement
- Danish: formalitet — specific requirement
- Finnish: muodollisuudet — specific requirement
- Finnish: formaliteetit — specific requirement
- French: formalité — specific requirement
- Galician: formalidade — specific requirement
- Georgian: ფორმალობა (pormaloba) — specific requirement
- Norwegian Bokmål: formalitet — specific requirement
- Norwegian Nynorsk: formalitet — specific requirement
- Polish: formalność — specific requirement
- Russian: форма́льность (formálʹnostʹ) — specific requirement
- Spanish: formalidad — specific requirement
- Swedish: formalia — specific requirement
- Ukrainian: форма́льність (formálʹnistʹ) — specific requirement
Real reading context