Meanings
comparative more formally · superlative most formally
- In a formal manner.
He was dressed too formally for the occasion.
- In accordance with official procedure.
He formally filed a complaint, which involved much paperwork.
1 more example
Dans told CNN he will formally launch his campaign with a prayer breakfast Wednesday in Charleston.
2025 July 28, Steve Contorno, “Project 2025 architect Paul Dans to challenge Lindsey Graham for Senate in South Carolina”, in CNN - In accordance with rigorous rules.
He proved it formally but gave his students no intuitive feel for the matter.
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbwith official authorization
adverbin a formal manner
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Englishformal
- Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
- Proto-Germanic*līką
- Englishformally
Translations
Afrikaans formeel, formeel
- formeelin accordance with official procedure
- formeelin accordance with rigorous rules
Bulgarian формално, официално
- формално (formalno)in a formal manner
- официално (oficialno)in accordance with official procedure
- формално (formalno)in accordance with rigorous rules
Catalan formalment, formalment
- formalmentin a formal manner
- formalmentin accordance with official procedure
- formalmentin accordance with rigorous rules
Czech formálně, formálně
- formálněin a formal manner
- formálněin accordance with official procedure
- formálněin accordance with rigorous rules
Dutch formeel, formeel
- formeelin a formal manner
- formeelin accordance with official procedure
- formeelin accordance with rigorous rules
Esperanto formale, formale
- formalein a formal manner
- formalein accordance with official procedure
Finnish muodollisesti, virallisesti
- muodollisestiin a formal manner
- virallisestiin a formal manner
- juhlallisestiin a formal manner
- formaalistiin a formal manner
- virallisestiin accordance with official procedure
- muodollisestiin accordance with official procedure
- formaalistiin accordance with rigorous rules
French formellement
- formellementin a formal manner
Italian formalmente, ufficialmente
- formalmentein a formal manner
- ufficialmentein accordance with official procedure
- rigorosamentein accordance with rigorous rules
Portuguese formalmente
- formalmentein a formal manner
Russian форма́льно
- форма́льно (formálʹno)in a formal manner
Spanish formalmente, formalmente
- formalmentein a formal manner
- formalmentein accordance with official procedure
- formalmentein accordance with rigorous rules
Ukrainian форма́льно, форма́льно
- форма́льно (formálʹno)in a formal manner
- форма́льно (formálʹno)in accordance with official procedure
- форма́льно (formálʹno)in accordance with rigorous rules
Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
formally. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/formally
“formally.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/formally. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “formally,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/formally.
Source: formally on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.