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
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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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Recent Examples of formalities
Eschewing the formalities of a spa, and adding to the intimate feel of the hotel, wellness at NoMad London is instead offered by renowned therapist in residence, Katie England, who sees guests for personalised treatments in one of the hotel’s first floor rooms.
—
Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Ending unauthorized immigration requires a leader unworried about legal formalities.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
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But are these traditions truly valuable, or just outdated formalities?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
Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Ending unauthorized immigration requires a leader unworried about legal formalities.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
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But are these traditions truly valuable, or just outdated formalities?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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formalities
Noun
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At the Hōshi Ryokan, the daily rituals of preparing baths or meals resemble a kind of stewardship — something that has kept the inn alive for more than 1,300 years.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
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While modest in size, it’s thoughtfully designed—offering pro-lift facials, ultra-glow peels, Himalayan salt rituals, hot stone therapy, and deeply restorative treatments like the Pro Sleep and Indian head massages.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement Advertisement In one of several choreographed gestures suggesting a special and intimate relationship between Russia and India, Putin gave Modi a ride in his presidential limousine to their bilateral meeting in Tianjin.—
Shyam Saran,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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Now, with gestures like this latest birthday surprise, the couple appears back on solid ground, blending star power and romance in a way that keeps fans rooting for them.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Notably, most viewers are watching the Emmys and other award ceremonies in bite-sized clips, scattered through social media timelines, rather than the full ceremony, and don’t pay as much attention to the running time.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Pregame ceremonies honored the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in 2001.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Other tools found in the gravesites appear to be brand new and were buried with the dead during funerary rites.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Formalities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formalities. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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