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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
Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Throughout the process, we had been assured by unions, management organizations, and government representatives that modifying the list of job titles would merely be an administrative formality.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 May 2025
And this time, the final five minutes were a mere formality.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Looking up an eatery ahead of time can provide a lot of context around variables like the formality level, style, and cuisine.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formality. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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formality
noun
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