Synonyms of formalities

formalities

noun

plural of formality

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

• courtesies
• gestures
• manners
• ceremonies
• pleasantries
• rituals
• rules
• civilities
• amenities
• rites
• attentions
• etiquettes
• greetings
• forms
• proprieties
• observances
• respects
• honors
• regards
• mores
• protocols
• addresses
• decorums
• favors
• graces
• devoirs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rituals
• ceremonies
• ceremonials
• rites
• observances
• traditions
• celebrations
• forms
• solemnities
• practices
• civilities
• customs
• standards
• etiquettes
• protocols
• manners
• conventions
• proprieties
• amenities
• habits
• services
• graces
• decorums
• mores
• ways

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of formalities

Yet with all the formalities, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about just what the TIFF Market will look like. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

Mackz has found that running can strip away some of the formalities of an interview and make space for more honest conversations. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Arfsten is expected to travel in the coming days to complete the move, pending formalities, sources say. — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 31 July 2026

During the 2000s, Villa Certosa became a global catalyst of international political discussion, while remaining at a comfortable remove from the protocols and formalities of the traditional places of government. — Mattia Ferraresi, Air Mail, 18 July 2026

Gerrymandering makes many general elections little more than formalities. — J.c. Polanco, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026

The bodies of the victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City before being flown to India after official formalities, according to the embassy. — CBS News, 13 July 2026

There’s no swanky reception desk, no concierge in pristine uniform, no formalities at all in fact. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026

Inspired by the most recent decade of killings of unarmed Black men by police, the seven prints selected from Henry’s series draw upon the sculptural pathos and solemn formalities of Michelangelo’s Pietà di San Pietro. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026