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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
Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
From that point, victory felt like a formality.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
For Mariana Molero and her husband, who have resided in the United States for two decades, Chen’s ruling extends beyond a legal formality.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
The Reddit post by user Olastun_bee recounts how the office transitioned from modern business casual—polos, cardigans, khakis—to a retro formality overnight.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formality. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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formality
noun
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