formal
formal — adjective
1. done or arranged by an authority or organization in a public way that follows se
done or arranged by an authority or organization in a public way that follows set rules — for example, a formal complaint made to a company or a formal agreement signed by both sides.
The company received a formal complaint about the noise from the factory.
collocation: formal complaint
Amani signed a formal agreement with the landlord before moving into the flat.
The city council held a formal meeting to discuss the new park plan.
No formal announcement has been made about the merger yet.
Jude submitted a formal written request for annual leave and received approval from his manager the next day.
- official
stronger focus on authority; an official statement comes from a person in power
- authorized
emphasises permission from a higher body; more limited in scope
- unofficial
describes something done without formal authority or recognition
用法筆記
Commonly appears before nouns such as complaint, agreement, meeting, announcement, and request. These nouns name actions or documents that need an official process.
常見錯誤
2. used to describe something that exists in official documents or by title only, w
used to describe something that exists in official documents or by title only, without matching what actually happens in practice — for example, a formal leader whose real power belongs to someone else.
Faisal is the formal head of the department, but his assistant makes all the decisions.
pattern: formal + role title (formal head / formal leader)
The union and management reached a formal agreement on wages, yet little changed on the factory floor.
Sayaka is the formal owner of the house, though her brother pays the mortgage.
The company has a formal policy on remote work, but managers rarely follow it.
用法筆記
Frequently paired with role titles (formal head, formal leader, formal owner). Adding a clause with 'but', 'yet', or 'though' that contrasts the real situation is the most common pattern.
3. suitable for important or official situations where people follow rules of corre
suitable for important or official situations where people follow rules of correct behaviour and appearance — for example, formal clothes for a wedding, or formal language in a job interview.
The invitation said "formal dress required," so Christopher wore his best suit.
collocation: formal dress
When Rachid wrote a letter of complaint to the bank about a mistaken charge, he used formal language throughout.
collocation: formal language
Élise wore a long formal gown to her sister's wedding ceremony.
The restaurant has a formal dining room where guests must wear jackets.
In Japan, a formal greeting includes a bow, while in Germany a firm handshake is expected between business partners.
- ceremonial
used specifically for ceremonies and rituals, often religious or traditional
- proper
broader meaning of correct behaviour, not limited to official settings
用法筆記
The most concrete sense of formal — learners encounter it first with clothes (formal dress, formal suit) and events (formal dinner, formal wedding). The opposite informal is very common at this level too.
常見錯誤
4. received through a structured programme of lessons and exams at a recognised tea
received through a structured programme of lessons and exams at a recognised teaching institution — for example, formal education, formal training, or formal qualifications.
Dario has no formal training in cooking, but he learned from his grandmother.
collocation: formal training
Megan started her formal education at a small village school at age six.
collocation: formal education
Jazz musician Miles Davis left school at seventeen and never had any formal music lessons.
Doctors in Taiwan must hold a formal qualification from an accredited medical school before they can practise.
- informal
describes learning that happens outside a school, e.g. from family or experience
用法筆記
Frequently used in negative constructions (no formal training, never had formal lessons) to contrast with skills learned through experience.
5. arranged in a planned, regular pattern with clear lines and symmetry rather than
arranged in a planned, regular pattern with clear lines and symmetry rather than in a natural or random way — for example, a formal garden with straight paths and trimmed hedges.
The hotel garden is very formal, with straight paths and neatly cut hedges.
collocation: formal garden
Xiu preferred a formal layout with square flower beds and a central fountain.
The dining table had a formal arrangement with plates centred exactly at each seat and napkins folded into perfect triangles.
The formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles have paths that meet at right angles between rows of trimmed hedges.
- symmetrical
focuses on balance and mirroring rather than overall planning
- structured
broader — can apply to any organized arrangement, not just visual design
用法筆記
This sense is most common in garden and interior design contexts. It contrasts with 'natural', 'wild', or 'organic' styles.
formal — noun
1. a social event where people gather to dance and are expected to wear elegant clo
a social event where people gather to dance and are expected to wear elegant clothes such as long dresses for women and suits or tuxedos for men.
The school holds a formal every year for students in their final year.
noun sense: a formal dance event
Yara bought a long blue dress for the winter formal at her college.
Reuben asked his friend to be his date for the school formal — a formal dance with dinner — next month.
Tickets for the formal cost sixty dollars and include dinner and drinks.
用法筆記
More common in American English. In British English, 'ball' or 'dinner dance' is often used instead. The word is countable: a formal / formals.