informal
adjective
in·for·mal
(ˌ)in-ˈfȯr-məl 
1
: marked by the absence of formality or ceremony
an informal meeting
2
: characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary, casual, or familiar use
informal clothes
Examples of informal in a Sentence
We had an informal meeting over lunch.
He has an informal manner that puts people at ease.
He spoke to them in informal Spanish.
The term is common in informal contexts.
He took an informal poll among his coworkers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Compared to their forerunners in the tsarist era, with their party congresses held abroad, their executive committees, and their active recruitment in imperial Russia’s universities, Soviet dissidents remained a comparatively small and informal conglomeration of activists.
—
Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Of those who stay, more than eighty per cent work in the informal sector—as domestic servants, street hawkers, porters, cleaners.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
All concerts are followed by an informal coffee reception and open house.
—Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Hurricane Helene’s wrath on the Charlotte area forced the cancellation of Lee’s initial informal coach’s luncheon, which is an event the organization hosts annually to serve as a precursor leading into the start of training camp.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
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Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Of those who stay, more than eighty per cent work in the informal sector—as domestic servants, street hawkers, porters, cleaners.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
All concerts are followed by an informal coffee reception and open house.
—Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Hurricane Helene’s wrath on the Charlotte area forced the cancellation of Lee’s initial informal coach’s luncheon, which is an event the organization hosts annually to serve as a precursor leading into the start of training camp.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informal. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
informal
adjective
in·for·mal
(ˈ)in-ˈfȯr-məl
1
: not formal
an informal party
2
: suited for ordinary or everyday use
informal clothes
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