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
The vice president, who is Catholic, held formal talks with the Vatican's secretary of state over the weekend before an informal face-to-face with Francis the following day.
—
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Those include Baker Beach in San Francisco, and Stinson and Muir beaches in Marin County, also on an informal, usually low-profile way.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
When the executive order goes into effect, de minimis packages from China will be subject to an informal entry process, and each package that travels to the U.S. via international post will now be subject to a tariff rate of 120 percent or $100, a rate that will increase to $200 after June 1.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
What exactly are the rules for saving seats at an informal event where seats are not assigned?
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Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Those include Baker Beach in San Francisco, and Stinson and Muir beaches in Marin County, also on an informal, usually low-profile way.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
When the executive order goes into effect, de minimis packages from China will be subject to an informal entry process, and each package that travels to the U.S. via international post will now be subject to a tariff rate of 120 percent or $100, a rate that will increase to $200 after June 1.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
What exactly are the rules for saving seats at an informal event where seats are not assigned?
Related Articles
Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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That meant the movie, which sees an unconventional band of antiheroes brought together to combat a supervillain, escaped a decision by China to curb Hollywood imports earlier this month as part of its retaliation against the United States.—
Casey Hall and Sophie Yu,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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From backing unconventional shows like Stranger Things to challenging Hollywood’s release models, Netflix has cultivated a ‘risk position’ that runs through its culture, structure, leadership, and decision-making.—
London School of Economics,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Retreat Linen Top and matching Mid-rise Shorts, both over 40 percent off, can be styled together for a polished resort outfit or worn separately with basics for casual, everyday wear.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2025
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If the weather promises to be nice, pull the picnic tables together for a casual potluck gathering full of everyone's favorite Easter food.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There’s very few vernacular places left in America.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2025
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Villa Aalto, with its modest rooms, charming front portico, traditional hip roofline, and wooden beams, speaks to the easy sincerity of his early designs: vernacular elements at odds with the Modernist dogmas of the day.—
Michael Snyder,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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