formalize
verb
for·mal·ize
ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlīz 
formalized; formalizing
1
: to give a certain or definite form to : shape
2
a
: to make formal
b
: to give formal status or approval to
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
The two men met when García was teaching at LaSalle College of the Arts and discovered Robot Playground Media, recognized something in each other’s approach to the medium, and eventually formalized their partnership into a co-directorship.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 June 2026
The city of Sacramento welcomed 35 representatives from the city, including Mayor Alfonso Martinez Alcazar, to formalize the cultural alliance with the Mexican city.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The arrangement was formalized under a memorandum of understanding between the government and the crown, which guarantees Charles the same right to privacy as any other taxpayer.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Gauss first helped human mathematicians complete the formalization of Viazovska’s solution to the 8-dimensional sphere-packing problem in a matter of days, and then autonomously formalized the more complicated 24-dimensional case in just two weeks.
—
Benjamin Skuse,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for formalize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 June 2026
The city of Sacramento welcomed 35 representatives from the city, including Mayor Alfonso Martinez Alcazar, to formalize the cultural alliance with the Mexican city.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The arrangement was formalized under a memorandum of understanding between the government and the crown, which guarantees Charles the same right to privacy as any other taxpayer.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Gauss first helped human mathematicians complete the formalization of Viazovska’s solution to the 8-dimensional sphere-packing problem in a matter of days, and then autonomously formalized the more complicated 24-dimensional case in just two weeks.
—
Benjamin Skuse,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for formalize
Cite this Entry
“Formalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formalize. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
formalize
verb
for·mal·ize
ˈfȯr-mə-ˌlīz
formalized; formalizing
1
: to make formal
2
: to give formal rank or approval to
formalizer
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
