1
as in gesture
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 ritual
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formality
The Japanese port city is more interested in fun than formality.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
There was always confidence that Everton had enough time to complete the deadline-day, loan-with-option deal, but the club required a deal sheet to iron out the formalities.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
That shift is visible across the city, even at spots long associated with old-guard formality like the exclusive Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, aka the Pink Lady.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Enthusiasm, not formality, is the order of the day.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
There was always confidence that Everton had enough time to complete the deadline-day, loan-with-option deal, but the club required a deal sheet to iron out the formalities.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
That shift is visible across the city, even at spots long associated with old-guard formality like the exclusive Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, aka the Pink Lady.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Enthusiasm, not formality, is the order of the day.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formality
Noun
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If the robot learns to pick up a bottle in an exact position and the bottle is shifted slightly, a system that only imitates will repeat the original gesture and fail.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Apart from managing the relationship with Washington, Takaichi faces the need to strike a balance between regional sensitivities and domestic political gestures that fire up her conservative and nationalist base.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Spa’s Herb Garden taps the island’s organic bounty, growing plants used in treatments, rituals, and teas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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In one, second-generation immigrant Gloria (Katy Correa) returns to her father’s home village in rural Guinea-Bissau for a traditional memorial ritual to mark the old man’s recent passing, and to introduce her twentysomething daughter Nour (D’Johé Kouadio) to her ancestral motherland.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Run with the permission of the author, courtesy of Grove Press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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That nourishment comes courtesy of fatty acid–rich rice bran extract and allantoin, the latter of which also works to repair the skin barrier to stave off sensitivity.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2020, Congressman John Lewis, another veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps due to pandemic restrictions at the time.—
MATT BROWN,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
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In 2020, Congressman John Lewis, another veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps due to pandemic restrictions at the time.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those federal statutes are enforceable through the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which directs courts to set aside agency actions when they are taken without observance of procedural requirements and in abuse of agency discretion.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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During the two-hour observance, cars lined up in the church parking lot as individuals paused briefly to receive ashes before continuing on with their day.—
Staff Photographer,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formality. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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