formally

English

Etymology

formal +‎ -ly

Pronunciation

• Homophone: formerly (some non rhotic accents)

Adverb

formally (comparative more formally, superlative most formally)

1. In a formal manner.

   He dressed quite formally - too formally for the occasion.

2. In accordance with official procedure.

   He formally filed a complaint, which involved much paperwork.

3. In accordance with rigorous rules.

   He proved it formally but gave his students no intuitive feel for the matter.

Antonyms

• informally

Translations

in a formal manner

• Catalan: formalment (ca)
• Czech: formálně (cs)
• Dutch: formeel (nl)

• French: formellement (fr)
• Spanish: formalmente (es)

in accordance with official procedure

• Catalan: formalment (ca)
• Czech: formálně (cs)

• Dutch: formeel (nl)
• Spanish: formalmente (es)

in accordance with rigorous rules

• Catalan: formalment (ca)
• Czech: formálně (cs)

• Dutch: formeel (nl)
• Spanish: formalmente (es)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Esperanto: formale (eo)

See also

• address (someone) formally
• officially