Synonyms for formal

Synonyms for (noun) formal

Synonyms: dinner dress, dinner gown, evening gown, formal

Definition: a gown for evening wear

Similar words: formalwear, evening clothes, evening dress, eveningwear

Definition: attire to wear on formal occasions in the evening


Similar words: gown

Definition: a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions


Synonyms: formal, ball

Definition: a lavish dance requiring formal attire

Similar words: dance

Definition: a party for social dancing


Synonyms for (adj) formal

Synonyms: courtly, stately, formal

Definition: refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court

Usage: a courtly gentleman

Similar words: dignified

Definition: having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance

Usage: her dignified demeanor; the director of the school was a dignified white-haired gentleman


Synonyms: formal

Definition: being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

Usage: pay one's formal respects; formal dress; a formal ball; the requirement was only formal and often ignored; a formal education

Similar words: ceremonial

Definition: marked by pomp or ceremony or formality

Usage: a ceremonial occasion; ceremonial garb


Similar words: ceremonious, conventional

Definition: rigidly formal or bound by convention

Usage: their ceremonious greetings did not seem heartfelt


Similar words: dress, full-dress

Definition: (of an occasion) requiring formal clothes

Usage: a dress dinner; a full-dress ceremony


Similar words: form-only

Definition: being a matter of form only; lacking substance

Usage: a form-only requirement that is usually ignored


Similar words: full-dress, dress

Definition: suitable for formal occasions

Usage: formal wear; a full-dress uniform; dress shoes


Similar words: titular, nominal

Definition: existing in name only

Usage: the nominal (or titular) head of his party


Similar words: prescribed, positive

Definition: formally laid down or imposed

Usage: positive laws


Similar words: pro forma, perfunctory

Definition: as a formality only

Usage: a one-candidate pro forma election


Similar words: semi-formal, semiformal, black-tie

Definition: moderately formal; requiring a dinner jacket

Usage: he wore semiformal attire; a black-tie dinner


Similar words: buckram, starchy, stiff

Definition: rigidly formal

Usage: a starchy manner; the letter was stiff and formal; his prose has a buckram quality


Similar words: white-tie

Definition: requiring white ties and tailcoats for men

Usage: a white-tie occasion


Synonyms: formal

Definition: (of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms

Usage: the paper was written in formal English

Similar words: literary

Definition: appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing

Usage: when trying to impress someone she spoke in an affected literary style


Synonyms: formal

Definition: logically deductive

Usage: formal proof

Similar words: logical

Definition: capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning

Usage: a logical mind


Synonyms: formal

Definition: characteristic of or befitting a person in authority

Usage: formal duties; an official banquet

Similar words: official

Definition: having official authority or sanction

Usage: official permission; an official representative


Synonyms: schematic, formal, conventional

Definition: represented in simplified or symbolic form

Similar words: nonrepresentational

Definition: of or relating to a style of art in which objects do not resemble those known in physical nature


Visual thesaurus for formal