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
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But unlike the evolution of colloquial language, which is largely arbitrary, the evolution of scientific terms must reflect our current understanding of reality.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
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In a market where there is a colloquial term for consumers who want their spirits bottled at the highest strength possible (proof hounds), this low-strength whiskey is a bold move.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Long sought-after by fans, Electric Nebraska is the informal title of the album that Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded in 1982 from a collection of demos for his follow-up to The River.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2025
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Use just one to three large informal dahlias with smaller additions like spray roses, cosmos, eucalyptus, or larkspur.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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