formal
Requiring proper attire
Formal describes what follows established rules, conventions, or ceremonies.
A formal dinner has set courses and dress codes.
Formal attire means suits and gowns.
A formal complaint goes through official channels.
Formal education happens in institutions with curricula, as opposed to learning on your own.
The word often contrasts with casual or informal: formal English avoids contractions and slang.
As a noun, a formal is a dance requiring dressy clothes: the winter formal.
Men's formal evening attire
- gownLong formal garment
- suitMatched formal garments
- tieEqual score, or neckwear
- cufflinksDecorative sleeve fasteners
evening wear · black-tie · white-tie · dress code · ball gown · cocktail dress · blazer · waistcoat
Customs of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- decorumFitting social conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
propriety · conventions · dignity · civility · comportment · refinement · tact · graciousness
Ceremonial set of actions
- inaugurationFormal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- commencementAct of starting
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
ordination · investiture · installation · consecration · induction · procession · pageantry · rite
Mutual mass attraction
- solemnitySerious, dignified quality
- seriousnessEarnest, weighty demeanor
- earnestnessGenuine seriousness of intent
- gravitasDignified, weighty manner
stiffness · reserve · restraint · impersonal · detachment · rigidity · coolness · aloofness
Art of persuasive language
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
- dictionChoice of words
- syntaxRules for arranging words
register · academic · scholarly · literary · official · stilted · precise · structured
Commercial activity or occupation
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- institutionalOf formal establishments
- bureaucraticExcessively procedural
administrative · contractual · procedural · documented · regulated · standardized · systematic · hierarchical
tuxedo
Men's formal evening attire
cufflinks · evening wear · black-tie · white-tie · dress code · ball gown · cocktail dress · blazer · waistcoat · bow tie
manners
Customs of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- decorumFitting social conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
politeness · propriety · conventions · dignity · civility · comportment · refinement · tact · graciousness · respectability
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- inaugurationFormal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- commencementAct of starting
convocation · ordination · investiture · installation · consecration · induction · procession · pageantry · rite · liturgy
gravity
Mutual mass attraction
- solemnitySerious, dignified quality
- seriousnessEarnest, weighty demeanor
- earnestnessGenuine seriousness of intent
gravitas · stiffness · reserve · restraint · impersonal · detachment · rigidity · coolness · aloofness · ceremonious
rhetoric
Art of persuasive language
syntax · register · academic · scholarly · literary · official · stilted · precise · structured · impersonal
business
Commercial activity or occupation
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- institutionalOf formal establishments
bureaucratic · administrative · contractual · procedural · documented · regulated · standardized · systematic · hierarchical · organizational
- fashionfashion, clothing, apparel, attire, garment
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- -al adjectivescultural, emotional, environmental, federal, financial
- Clothing Stylestucked in, untucked, front tuck, rolled sleeves, buttoned up
- decor stylesmodern, contemporary, traditional, rustic, bohemian
- dress codedress code, black tie, business casual, white tie, casual
formalinformal
Relaxed, not official
casual · relaxed · unceremonious · laid-back · colloquial
formalinformal
Relaxed, not official
unofficial · tacit · unauthorized · de facto · off-the-record
formalirregular
Deviating from normal patterns
unstructured · disorderly · unorthodox · unconventional · freewheeling
- baby formulaManufactured breast milk alternative
- form letterPrewritten mail for many
- art formCreative expression category
- formal attireDressy occasion clothing
- take formDevelop into something recognizable
- formal wearElegant occasion clothing
form, uniform, reform, informal, formula, formation, transform, format, formidable