formal
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++form·al1 /ˈfɔːməl $ ˈfɔːr-/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective 1 PGofficial 官方的 [usually before noun] made or done officially or publicly 官方的；正式的 OPP informal formal recognition of the reformed church 改革后的教会所获得的官方承认 a formal agreement between the countries 两国间的正式协议 There is no formal structure for negotiating pay increases. 加薪谈判没有正式的框架可循。make/lodge a formal complaint Mr Kelly has lodged a formal complaint against the police. 凯利先生已正式投诉警方。2 POLITEbehaviour 行为 formal behaviour is very polite, and is used in official or important situations, or with people you do not know well 正式的，庄重的 OPP informal Over the years, teaching methods have changed and become less formal. 这几年来，教学方法已有所改变，不再那么正式了。3 SLlanguage 语言 formal language is used in official or serious situations 适合正式场合的 OPP informal ‘Yours sincerely’ is a formal way of ending a letter. Yours sincerely（谨上）是一个正式的书信结尾。4 DPOLITEevent/occasion 事件/场合 a formal event is important, and people who go to it wear special clothes and behave very politely 正式的 OPP informal I’ve met her twice but only on formal occasions. 我见过她两次，但都只是在正式场合。 a formal dinner 正式的晚宴5 clothes 服装 formal dress is clothing such as a tuxedo for men or a long dress for women, that is worn to formal events 正式场合穿的 OPP casual, informal We insist on formal dress for dinner. 我们坚持要求穿正装赴晚宴。6 formal education/training/qualifications SEeducation etc in a subject or skill, that you receive in a school, college etc rather than practical experience of it 正规教育/培训/资格 knowledge and wisdom gained from experience rather than from formal education 通过经验而不是正规教育得来的知识和智慧7 organized 有组织的 done in a very organized way 条理分明的 OPP informal The course includes formal lectures. 这门课程包括正式的讲座。8 garden/park 花园/公园 a formal garden, park, or room is arranged in a very organized way 整齐的，布置井然的 OPP informal the palace’s beautifully restored formal gardens 那座宫殿经修复后美丽齐整的花园 → formallyExamples from the Corpus
formal• What should I call your mom? "Mrs. Dunlap" seems too formal.• His parents are very formal.• A formal agreement between the two countries was signed in 1999.• A lot of people found my father rather formal and aloof, particularly when they first met him.• a formal announcement• The need for formal assessment has already been conceded by teachers.• A formal ceremony was held to celebrate the anniversary of his death.• They filed a formal complaint.• Fifteen formal complaints have been made about the hospital in the past year.• a formal dance• On July 19th a formal declaration of war was made.• You shouldn't use "Yours faithfully" - it's much too formal for this kind of letter.• Our boss is very formal - he doesn't call anyone by their first name.• The class includes formal lectures as well as field trips.• She wrote a formal letter of application for the job.• It's time for formal manners to be used again in the workplace.• San Francisco has had a formal needle exchange throughout the 1990s.• The cognitive capabilities of the adolescent with fully developed formal operations are qualitatively equal to those of the adult.• Paris has a number of beautiful formal parks.• Her lawyers have made a formal request that she be allowed to stay in the country until her husband's trial.• The aim was to have as few restrictive, formal rules as possible - to make this a genuinely open show.• A large minority favors formal separation.• Some theories are more formal than others.• The principal advantage of such a requirement is that it signals, in a formal way, that the procedure is under way.• men's formal wearmake/lodge a formal complaint• Family of police chase victim make a formal complaint.• Yesterday Mr Dixon confirmed he had made a formal complaint about Mr Fallon based on information received from another member.• The detainee can make a formal complaint after release, but this offers little solace to the aggrieved individual.• If Sidacai cared to lodge a formal complaint, the jailers would suffer punishment. probably he would not complain.• But her family have now lodged a formal complaint with the Police Complaints Authority which is to investigate.formal occasions• It is sung at family celebrations like this one, but also at more formal occasions.• Or rather, they photograph you only on formal occasions: birthdays, weddings, Christmas.• Hence peace-makings were solemn and formal occasions, committing groups of people to restraint.• The rules are most useful on formal occasions like weddings, and particularly when they happen only once in a lifetime.formal2 noun [countable] American English 1. Da dance at which you have to wear formal clothes 正式的舞会2. DCCan expensive and usually long dress that women wear on formal occasions 〔女子的〕正式礼服Examples from the Corpus
formal• A tangerine-and-lime brocade formal in perfect condition comes to mind.• And the women were in their formals and they all sat down and there was not a laugh in the entire show.• The school is holding a winter formal.From Longman Business Dictionaryformalfor‧mal /ˈfɔːməlˈfɔːr-/ adjective done or given officially and publiclyThe companies said they expect to sign a formal agreement before year’s end.No formal announcement has yet been made.The British authorities have decided to launch a formal investigation into the company’s trading practices. —formally adverbThe merger was formally announced late yesterday afternoon.Origin formal1 (1300-1400) Latin formalis, from forma; → FORM1form·al1 adjectiveformal2 nounChineseSyllable
officially Corpus done or made or publicly Business
formal
form‧al1 S2 W2 /ˈfɔːməl $ ˈfɔːr-/ 
adjective
OPP informal:
formal recognition of the reformed church
a formal agreement between the countries
There is no formal structure for negotiating pay increases.
make/lodge a formal complaint
Mr Kelly has lodged a formal complaint against the police.
2. BEHAVIOUR formal behaviour is very polite, and is used in official or important situations, or with people you do not know well
OPP informal:
Over the years, teaching methods have changed and become less formal.
3. LANGUAGE formal language is used in official or serious situations
OPP informal:
‘Yours sincerely’ is a formal way of ending a letter.
4. EVENT/OCCASION a formal event is important, and people who go to it wear special clothes and behave very politely
OPP informal:
I’ve met her twice but only on formal occasions.
a formal dinner
5. CLOTHES formal dress is clothing such as a tuxedo for men or a long dress for women, that is worn to formal events
OPP casual, informal:
We insist on formal dress for dinner.
6. formal education/training/qualifications education etc in a subject or skill, that you receive in a school, college etc rather than practical experience of it:
knowledge and wisdom gained from experience rather than from formal education
7. ORGANIZED done in a very organized way
OPP informal:
The course includes formal lectures.
8. GARDEN/PARK a formal garden, park, or room is arranged in a very organized way
OPP informal:
the palace’s beautifully restored formal gardens
⇨ formally
formal2 noun [countable] American English
1. a dance at which you have to wear formal clothes
2. an expensive and usually long dress that women wear on formal occasions
▪ dance an organized social event where people to go dance: The dance will be held in the school gym.
▪ball a large formal occasion where people dance: The University holds a ball at the end of June.
▪prom a formal dance party for high school students, especially in the US, usually held at the end of a school year: Who’s your date for the prom?
▪formal American English a dance at which you must wear formal clothes: He rented a tuxedo to wear to his company’s holiday formal.
▪disco a place or social event where people dance to recorded popular music: She met Nick at a school disco.
▪club/nightclub a place where people go at night to dance: We went out for dinner and then to a club.
| I |
adjective Word Family: noun: formality ≠ informality, formalization; verb: formalize; adverb: formally ≠ informally; adjective: formal ≠ informal
1. OFFICIAL [usually before noun] made or done officially or publicly OPP informal:
make/lodge a formal complaint
2. BEHAVIOUR formal behaviour is very polite, and is used in official or important situations, or with people you do not know well
OPP informal:
3. LANGUAGE formal language is used in official or serious situations
OPP informal:
4. EVENT/OCCASION a formal event is important, and people who go to it wear special clothes and behave very politely
OPP informal:
5. CLOTHES formal dress is clothing such as a tuxedo for men or a long dress for women, that is worn to formal events
OPP casual, informal:
6. formal education/training/qualifications education etc in a subject or skill, that you receive in a school, college etc rather than practical experience of it:
7. ORGANIZED done in a very organized way
OPP informal:
8. GARDEN/PARK a formal garden, park, or room is arranged in a very organized way
OPP informal:
⇨ formally
| II |
noun [countable] American English1. a dance at which you have to wear formal clothes
2. an expensive and usually long dress that women wear on formal occasions
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪