Standard Lemma guide

formalize

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

  • General-American: /ˈfɔɹ.məlaɪːz/
  • UK: /ˈfɔː(ɹ).mə.laɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)məlaɪz
  • CMU ARPABET: F AO1 R M AH0 L AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To give something a definite form; to shape.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To develop into a definite form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To give something a formal or official standing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To act with formality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To rigorously prove a mathematical result.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

declare or make legally valid

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: validate, formalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: authorize, authorise, pass, clear

Narrower terms: sign, ratify, co-sign, cosign, probate

7

verb

Meaning 7

make formal or official

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We formalized the appointment and gave him a title

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: formalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: declare, adjudge, hold

Narrower terms: ritualize, ritualise

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English formal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English formalize From formal + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: офо́рмям (ofórmjam) — to give something a definite form
  • Catalan: formalitzar — to give something a definite form
  • Danish: formgive — to give something a definite form
  • Esperanto: formi — to give something a definite form
  • Finnish: muotoilla — to give something a definite form
  • Finnish: formalisoida — to give something a definite form
  • Finnish: muodollistaa — to give something a definite form
  • French: formaliser — to give something a definite form
  • Galician: formalizar — to give something a definite form
  • Portuguese: formalizar — to give something a definite form
  • Spanish: formalizar — to give something a definite form
  • Ukrainian: формалізува́ти (formalizuváty) — to give something a definite form
  • Bulgarian: формализирам (formaliziram) — to give something formal or official standing
  • Catalan: formalitzar — to give something formal or official standing
  • Danish: formalisere — to give something formal or official standing
  • Esperanto: formaligi — to give something formal or official standing
  • Finnish: vahvistaa — to give something formal or official standing
  • Finnish: virallistaa — to give something formal or official standing
  • Finnish: formaalistaa — to give something formal or official standing
  • Finnish: muodollistaa — to give something formal or official standing
  • Galician: formalizar — to give something formal or official standing
  • Kazakh: ресмилендіру (resmilendıru) — to give something formal or official standing
  • Portuguese: formalizar — to give something formal or official standing
  • Spanish: formalizar — to give something formal or official standing
  • Swedish: formalisera — to give something formal or official standing
  • Bulgarian: формализирам се (formaliziram se) — to act with formality
  • Finnish: toimia muodollisesti — to act with formality
  • Spanish: formalizar — to act with formality