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
However, the application must only include a 500-word description of the idea and an informal video that is no longer than three minutes summarizing the idea.
—
Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 Jan. 2026
Foreman joined the Living Coast in 2022 and has more than 20 years of experience in informal science education, including previous work at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
This informal system is far from perfect, of course.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
So even the informal school programs cannot really proceed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 Jan. 2026
Foreman joined the Living Coast in 2022 and has more than 20 years of experience in informal science education, including previous work at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
This informal system is far from perfect, of course.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
So even the informal school programs cannot really proceed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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Its modular architecture allows custom sizes, voltages, and geometries, enabling unconventional uses such as structural integration into vehicle frames, drones, or chassis designs.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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In the series, Winkler would play Howard Greenberg, a hard-driving and unconventional criminal defense attorney who is a fierce advocate for his underdog clients.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For many young women, the stiletto’s discomfort is part of the appeal, offering proof that effort and glamor remain in an age of casual sneakers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Simple yet polished, the Anrabess Long Sleeve Midi Dress is perfect for a casual Thanksgiving feast or a fall day out on the town.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The colloquial term Paczki Day is used for Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras.—
Jelissa Burns,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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In this context, something as small and lightweight as a pair of earrings could serve as the colloquial glue that united people under one national identity, at a moment in history when destabilization and separation were the modi operandi of a country sharing a border with Ukraine.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Upside Down, a dark, gooey parallel universe of Hawkins, and its predatory demogorgons became part of their middle school vernacular.—
Lorraine Ali,
Boston Herald,
30 Nov. 2025
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In vernacular languages up to the early modern period in Europe, cognates of conversatio often conveyed a sense of physical closeness: gathering or dwelling together.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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