1
as in courtesies
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
bowing to your guest is a formality you don't need to perform for me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rituals
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
churchgoers loved the formalities of a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formalities
The 45-year-old was in London to sign off on the Eze transfer and was at London Colney on the day to complete the formalities of the 27-year-old winger’s deal, with a beaming Josh even posing for a photo alongside Eze and Arteta.
—
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
But are these traditions truly valuable, or just outdated formalities?
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2025
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
But are these traditions truly valuable, or just outdated formalities?
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formalities
Noun
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Rise & Dine is a SAVEUR column by contributing editor Megan Zhang, an aspiring early riser who seeks to explore the culture of mornings and rituals of breakfast around the world.—
Megan Zhang,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
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Hidden on a third-floor mezzanine within the palazzo, the intimate space offering massages and treatments inspired by both Asian healing practices and Italian traditional rituals was enriched by new services, spanning from cryotherapy to express facials intended to fight jet-leg.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Revord does the audio themself, and worked with a dialect coach to perfect British accents and learn how to act without facial expressions or gestures.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Nicolás Maduro gestures while speaking after results were released following municipal elections in Caracas, Venezuela, in the early morning of July 28, 2025.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After a 21-year absence from Wrigley Field that ended earlier this summer, the weekend ceremonies seemed to signal the conclusion to an awkward, ongoing saga.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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From film premieres to award ceremonies, music shows to magazine events, these sightings remind us that the culture is always on the move, shaping global conversations in real time.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The film begins with our protagonist, Ahmed, carrying out his late father’s funeral rites while verses are read from an ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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As Black instruments were confiscated and burned, the new Caribbeans would abandon their plantations to perform secret rites in the forests, or remake their tools entirely.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formalities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formalities. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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