1
as in unconventional
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an informal meeting allowed everyone to get acquainted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in casual
not designed to be worn only on special occasions
chose an informal flowery dress
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
the use of informal language in a scholarly article is really inappropriate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of informal
Fans immediately took Brown’s cryptic social media as an informal trade request, prompting Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, and Brown himself, to address his polarizing remarks and where the $96 million wide receiver stood with the team.
—
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
An informal poll of the Bruins looked at which of the players would be like Zadorov and put the most care into their game day outfits.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Security and defense will be central to talks at the informal European Council meeting on Wednesday, with how to strengthen Europe’s common defense the central theme of the meeting.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
The character—whose superpower is fighting fevers, which are often present during cancer treatment—has long served as an informal mascot for patients and families.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
An informal poll of the Bruins looked at which of the players would be like Zadorov and put the most care into their game day outfits.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Security and defense will be central to talks at the informal European Council meeting on Wednesday, with how to strengthen Europe’s common defense the central theme of the meeting.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
The character—whose superpower is fighting fevers, which are often present during cancer treatment—has long served as an informal mascot for patients and families.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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Risher isn’t the only chief executive who throws out unconventional questions to get a deeper read on applicants.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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Grant also advocates for experimentation and recommends that at-home mixologists utilize unconventional flavors often.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this fall, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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The teal stood out in the parade of super-casual fits.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But unlike the evolution of colloquial language, which is largely arbitrary, the evolution of scientific terms must reflect our current understanding of reality.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
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In a market where there is a colloquial term for consumers who want their spirits bottled at the highest strength possible (proof hounds), this low-strength whiskey is a bold move.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For such an insistence on democracy, the pavilion is curiously tepid in its politics, save for a kind of vernacular populism and some PBS-esque nods to the Gee’s Bend quilters.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
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Once again, his use of vernacular and social media address appeared to be mocking the President’s own style.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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