pro forma

adjective

pro for·​ma (ˌ)prō-ˈfȯr-mə 

1

: made or carried out in a perfunctory manner or as a formality

2

: based on financial assumptions or projections: such as

a

: reflecting a transaction (such as a merger) or other development as if it had been or will be in effect for a past or future period

a pro forma balance sheet

b

: excluding usually extraordinary charges or expenses (as from acquisitions, restructuring, or the write-down of goodwill) often in order to present a more attractive financial report

pro forma income

Did you know?

A lot of things are done for the sake of appearances. A teacher might get officially observed and evaluated every three years, even though everyone knows she's terrific and the whole thing is strictly pro forma. A critic might say that an orchestral conductor gave a pro forma performance, since his heart wasn't in it. A business owner might make a pro forma appearance at the funeral of a politician's mother, never having met her but maybe hoping for a favor from her son sometime in the future. In business, pro forma has some special meanings; a pro forma invoice, for example, will list all the items being sent but, unlike a true invoice, won't be an actual bill.

Examples of pro forma in a Sentence

The meeting was strictly pro forma, since the decision had already been made.

Recent Examples on the Web

South Dakota’s Mike Rounds presided over the Senate’s first pro forma session of August, a longstanding practice designed to block presidential recess appointments. —Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2025

The second obstacle is that the House would also have to agree to a longer-term adjournment resolution to opt out of pro forma sessions that block the president from making recess appointments. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 31 July 2025

One key obstacle lies beyond the Senate’s control; both chambers must formally adjourn to enable such appointments, but the House has already left town and is holding pro forma sessions instead. —Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2025

In many cases, such words were just included pro forma in top-quality scientific research programs. —Miami Herald, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, for form

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pro forma

• norma

Legal Definition

pro forma

adjective

pro for·​ma prō-ˈfȯr-mə 

1

: made or carried out in a perfunctory manner or as a formality

2

: provided or made in advance to describe items or projections

a pro forma invoice

Etymology

Latin, for the sake of form