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

Around the same time, OpenAI researcher Boris Alexeev managed to formalize the proof, verifying its correctness step-by-step using the programming language Lean. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026

Employees already post about the brand more than peers at similar companies, so Starbucks is formalizing that behavior with briefs and compensation. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The General Assembly is also a place where deals are struck or formalized. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

The analyst then used the AI to formalize its conclusions into a conventional military intelligence report without double- or triple-checking the validity of its conclusions. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for formalize

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

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