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
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
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
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Accessories are getting more unconventional, too.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
In sharp contrast to the region’s traditional stone dwellings, the experimental concrete home—designed in his mid-20s with collaborators Roland Baltera and François Seigneur—stands out for its angular, unconventional form.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the brand became the foundation for a global retail empire and reshaped American fashion with a focus on simple casual looks from khakis and jeans to T-shirts and sweater sets.—
Anne D'Innocenzio,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Lluritu is a modern, casual seafood bar that's quickly becoming a favorite in the neighborhood of Gràcia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Their language — marked by rich, tactile detail and a colloquial urgency — has quietly shaped how generations of songwriters articulate devotion.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Although tabloid journalism tends not to focus on issues with broad socioeconomic impact, when these issues are covered audiences may relate to them more easily because they are discussed in colloquial, accessible language.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The sound of motorbikes and cars fade as birds take over with their harmonies all around Nai Lert’s Thai vernacular style all-teak vacation home, built in 1915.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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This pattern blends the storytelling rhythm of the Persian mas̄navī (narrative poem written in rhyming couplets) with vernacular Hindi verse forms.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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