INFORMAL Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

informal

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈfȯr-məl

Definition of informal

as in unconventional

not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules an informal meeting allowed everyone to get acquainted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in casual

not designed to be worn only on special occasions chose an informal flowery dress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of informal The informal term — which is not a clinical diagnosis — refers to spouses who remain together while reducing their emotional effort, communication or involvement in the relationship, according to experts. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Roebbelen said neighbors use the pool facility several times a week for swimming, fishing and informal gatherings. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Thousands of Moto Guzzi riders pulled up Saturday for an annual gathering and informal ride along the winding lakeside roads. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026 Her fearsome paradisical pieces have been flung like seed across the continents in an informal way. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for informal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal

Adjective

Screening the electron interactions weakened and ultimately eliminated superconductivity, supporting an unconventional mechanism for electron pairing.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Inspired by the unconventional materials and craftsmanship of studio jewelry, the couple fell in love with art jewelry as collectible material culture.

— Livia Caligor, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Adjective

Garten sported hers buttoned up over a sleek pair of black tapered trousers while Gaines went more casual, with a distressed version and a matching pair of wide-leg jeans for a Canadian tuxedo vibe.

— Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
The casual restaurants serving simple, inexpensive meals, typically at a lunch counter, began emerging in the late 19th century.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of casual

Adjective

Silent sleep apnea is a colloquial term for the form of the condition that occurs without the loud, disruptive snoring most people associate with it.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Wilson’s translation has come under fire for her decision to render Homeric Greek into a direct, colloquial English.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of colloquial

Adjective

On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Undaunted, the couple embarked on a renovation, working with a local builder and an architect who understood the rustic vernacular architecture associated with Glacier National Park.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026