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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
Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
For some select, elevated occasions, a white tie dress code is still used to indicate the highest level of formality.
—Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
But what was once a simmering tension has now erupted into visibility and formality.
—Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2026
McDonough and Stewart’s long-brewing relationship, which began when McDonough profiled the singer for The Village Voice in the late eighties, eschewed the formality or distance of a traditional journalist and subject.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formality. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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formality
noun
