formalize

verb

for·​mal·​ize ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlīz 

formalized; formalizing

transitive verb

1

: to give a certain or definite form to : shape

2

a

: to make formal

b

: to give formal status or approval to

formalizable

ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective

formalization

ˌfȯr-mə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

formalizer

ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms of formalize

• standardize

Examples of formalize in a Sentence

The company has formalized its hiring practices.

Congress formalized the policy by making it law.

Recent Examples on the Web

But now that the cut has been formalized and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has spoken about the trajectory of rate cuts in 2026, there's more information to digest for lenders. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

If that passes, the TSSAA Legislative Council will formalize the change at its April meeting. —Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025

Roughly half of the 180 companies were in the experimentation and prototyping phase, Rishi found, while 25% were hard at work formalizing their prototypes. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has formalized the inclusion of rental data in mortgage underwriting, which will required verified rental and identity data. —Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for formalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

formalize

verb

for·​mal·​ize ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlīz 

formalized; formalizing

1

: to make formal

2

: to give formal rank or approval to

formalization

ˌfȯr-mə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

formalizer noun