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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

formally en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • (London) audio
  • /ˈfɔː.mə.li/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈfoː.mə.li/ (Australia)
  • /ˈfɔːm.li/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈfɔɹ.mə.li/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree English formal Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English formally From formal + -ly.

Meanings

  1. In a formal manner.
    • He was dressed too formally for the occasion.
  2. In accordance with official procedure.
    • Dans told CNN he will formally launch his campaign with a prayer breakfast Wednesday in Charleston. 2025 July 28, Steve Contorno, “Project 2025 architect Paul Dans to challenge Lindsey Graham for Senate in South Carolina”, in CNN:
    • 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.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more formally Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most formally Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

informally

Deriveds

unformally

Relateds

officially

Translations (31)

af formeel (in accordance with official procedure) · gl formalmente (in a formal manner) · ca formalment (in accordance with official procedure) · fr formellement (in a formal manner) · fi formaalisti (in a formal manner) · fi virallisesti (in a formal manner) · it rigorosamente (in accordance with rigorous rules) · cs formálně (in accordance with official procedure) · nl formeel (in a formal manner) · bg формално (in a formal manner) · ca formalment (in a formal manner) · fi virallisesti (in accordance with official procedure) · it ufficialmente (in accordance with official procedure) · nl formeel (in accordance with rigorous rules) · fi muodollisesti (in accordance with official procedure) · cs formálně (in a formal manner) · bg формално (in accordance with rigorous rules) · nl formeel (in accordance with official procedure) · es formalmente (in accordance with official procedure) · pt formalmente (in a formal manner) · fi juhlallisesti (in a formal manner) · it formalmente (in a formal manner) · ru форма́льно (in a formal manner) · bg официално (in accordance with official procedure) · es formalmente (in a formal manner) · fi muodollisesti (in a formal manner) · fi formaalisti (in accordance with rigorous rules) · ca formalment (in accordance with rigorous rules) · es formalmente (in accordance with rigorous rules) · af formeel (in accordance with rigorous rules) · cs formálně (in accordance with rigorous rules)