Meaning

• Formalin.

• An evening gown.

• An event with a formal dress code.

  "Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal."

• A formal parameter.

Meaning

• Being in accord with established forms.

  "She spoke formal English, without any dialect."

• Official.

  "I'd like to make a formal complaint."

• Relating to the form or structure of something.

  "Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar."

• Relating to formation.

  "The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development."

• Ceremonial or traditional.

  "Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!"

• Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.

  "He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit."

• Organized; well-structured and planned.

  "When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse."

• Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.

  "Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence."