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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.
Examples of formality in a Sentence
Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
The city attorney’s review is not a formality.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
That five-day gap between a handshake deal and paperwork might seem like a formality.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
The bill will become law once King Charles III grants royal assent — a formality — and the hereditary peers will leave at the end of the current session of Parliament this spring, completing a political process begun a quarter century ago.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formality. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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formality
noun
