Synset

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
<adj.all> freq. cnt.: 13 freq. cnt.: 13

sample sentences

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

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

formalness formality

antonym

semantic pointers

also see

conventional formal

attribute

formality, formalness

similar to

ceremonial ceremonious, conventional dress, full-dress form-only full-dress, dress nominal, titular positive, prescribed pro forma, perfunctory semiformal, semi-formal, black-tie stiff, starchy, buckram white-tie