as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
use of the nonformal "Dad" would be a little jarring in a prayer to our Heavenly Father
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Recent Examples of nonformal
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, more than 272,000 children in Ukraine have benefitted from learning interventions with supplies provided by UNICEF, and over 400,000 children have engaged in formal or nonformal education.
—
Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022
But even Cunard has nonformal settings where dressed-down can go, including the buffet, casino and pub.
—Hannah Sampson, Houston Chronicle, 20 Dec. 2019
Tostan’s core is a broad nonformal education program offered to villagers in a number of African countries.
—Amy Yee, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2017
Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022
But even Cunard has nonformal settings where dressed-down can go, including the buffet, casino and pub.
—Hannah Sampson, Houston Chronicle, 20 Dec. 2019
Tostan’s core is a broad nonformal education program offered to villagers in a number of African countries.
—Amy Yee, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonformal
Adjective
-
Cervantes’ writings mixes a high-style and an extraordinary realism, in ordinary life detail and colloquial dialogue.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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This isn’t about a desire for simpler, colloquial language.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Protesters signaled their support for Karki through an informal vote on the messaging app Discord.—
Sugam Pokharel,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Bolsonaro's presidency was marked by intense skepticism about the pandemic and vaccines and his embrace of informal mining and land-clearing for cattle grazing, pushing deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest to record highs.—
Ricardo Brito,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For such an insistence on democracy, the pavilion is curiously tepid in its politics, save for a kind of vernacular populism and some PBS-esque nods to the Gee’s Bend quilters.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
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Once again, his use of vernacular and social media address appeared to be mocking the President’s own style.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonformal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonformal. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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