1
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
2
as in casual
not designed to be worn only on special occasions
chose an informal flowery dress
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Separated by decades of time and distance and different lines of work, the members decided to get back together for an informal jam session two summers ago in Seattle, where McCaffrey lives.
—
Chris Placek,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
While fraternities and sororities often have their own chapter gatherings and organizational conferences, the picnic creates a space where members from different organizations can come together in a more informal setting.
—
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
Now, LLMs are starting to remove this bottleneck, automating the translation of informal proofs into formal code that proof assistants can verify.
—
Benjamin Skuse,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 June 2026
Starting with that informal group at Duke in 2019, the nonprofit’s student-athlete campus ambassador program has taken on a life of its own, while staying true to Callahan’s peer-to-peer model led by student-athletes.
—
Sydney Haywood,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Chris Placek,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
While fraternities and sororities often have their own chapter gatherings and organizational conferences, the picnic creates a space where members from different organizations can come together in a more informal setting.
—
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
Now, LLMs are starting to remove this bottleneck, automating the translation of informal proofs into formal code that proof assistants can verify.
—
Benjamin Skuse,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 June 2026
Starting with that informal group at Duke in 2019, the nonprofit’s student-athlete campus ambassador program has taken on a life of its own, while staying true to Callahan’s peer-to-peer model led by student-athletes.
—
Sydney Haywood,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
-
Your unconventional ideas land better when people can experience them instead of only hearing about them.
-
While seemingly an unconventional choice, Sandler, Swift and Kelce have been in each other's orbit for several years.
Adjective
-
On casual occasions, this T-shirt dress is an easy way to be presentable—and comfortable.
-
Plus, the simple silhouette easily transitions from daytime adventures to casual dinners.
Adjective
-
Its name refers to the colloquial term once used for Papaya—paw-paw.
-
The Solons name refers to an ancient Greek lawmaker, whose name later became a colloquial term for wise legislators, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Adjective
-
And yet Webster’s dictionary, and his earlier attempts at spelling reform, expressed a radical desire to forge an entirely new tongue based in the vernacular genius of the aspiring American people.
-
Because the alcohol drives the storytellers toward vernacular expression, these pieces can seem more alive and authentic, more relatable, than big-budget, big-screen productions.
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
