INFORMAL Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

informal

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈfȯr-məl

Definition of informal next

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

as in casual

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

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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 Often advertised on Facebook or through other social media, the free meetings are open to everyone and focus on informal, unstructured conversation about mortality. —

Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026 Experts will give informal tours of the various plant beds contained in the garden’s Chinese medicinal garden section, answering guest questions. —

Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 Despite government pledges to restore order, large portions of the mining sector remain effectively controlled by non-government figures, who regulate access to sites, impose informal taxes and oversee extraction and transport networks. —

Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 The Bible Belt is an informal term for a region of the United States, generally associated with the South and parts of the lower Midwest, where conservative Protestant Christianity has historically played a prominent role in public and cultural life. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for informal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal

Adjective

At first glance, the pairing might seem like an unconventional one, even though both artists are well known for appropriating others’ images.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
The country’s ability to credibly threaten commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz actually hinges on multiple layers of cheap and unconventional warfare systems – drones, mines and a fleet of small attack boats, which are harder to detect than traditional naval assets.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 8 May 2026