formulaic

adjective

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik 

1

: produced according to a formula or set of formulas : adhering to set forms or conventions

a formulaic response

a movie with a formulaic plot

… much of the will's language was formulaic, in accordance with Venetian customs.

—Laurence Bergreen

The film … uses simple, formulaic storytelling to spin the tale of Bella, a rescued pit bull who makes her way home after a two-year walkabout.

—Katie Walsh

2

: of or relating to a mathematical formula

Those projections prompted the department to evaluate the state tax withholding tables. In September, the department found the formulaic error that had apparently been there, undetected, for at least 15 years.

—Kathryn Palmer

formulaically

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

… his songs still stick formulaically to the surface of pop entertainments.

—David Sargent

The price of admission to local social functions is often expressed formulaically as 'Gentlemen $2, ladies a plate', meaning a plate of scones or the like.

—Robert Burchfield

Synonyms

• apish
• canned
• emulative
• epigonic
• epigonous
• imitative
• mimetic
• mimic
• slavish
• unoriginal

Examples of formulaic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ford the former idealist finds respite, briefly, in the formulaic, accusatory stories of partisan discourse. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024

The first section is a relatively formulaic detective story, in which a young police officer on his first big case confronts an insular community hostile to outsiders like him, but manages, through grit and perseverance, to find the culprit. —Amanda Taub, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024

Some writers get more formulaic with age, but Koontz continues to get more innovative and more experimental in his new work. —Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024

The movie is as frothy as the foam on a pint of Guinness, as formulaic as the last disposable Netflix rom-com. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024

Saweetie’s status as a global artist with two Grammy nominations and five songs that have made the Hot 100 charts has schooled her on the formulaic yet admittedly effective approach the music industry takes. —Lakin Imani Starling, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024

How to Watch the Halloween Movies in Order But Lindahl is quick to emphasize that the film isn’t a formulaic slasher film. —Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024

There is something about composing from scratch — having to come up with an idea and struggle with the best way to say it — that makes our creations more human and less formulaic. —Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024

At times, the novel’s political discourse can feel forced upon the narrative, resulting in moments of stilted dialogue and formulaic characters. —Kayla Maiuri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 2