The meaning of Formal

adjective

Generally believed or recognized to be valid or correct.

Usage examples:

He wasn't handsome in the accepted sense

verb

Consent to receive or undertake (something offered).

Usage examples:

He accepted a pen as a present

adjective

Officially agreed or accepted as satisfactory.

Usage examples:

Places on approved courses

verb

Officially agree to or accept as satisfactory.

Usage examples:

The budget was approved by parliament

adjective

Able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable.

Usage examples:

Clear, authoritative information and advice

adjective

Having the power of special knowledge, or (of a person) showing the confidence of having special knowledge

Usage examples:

An authoritative manner, her opinion on the subject was considered authoritative., he spoke authori…

adjective

Having official permission or approval.

Usage examples:

An authorized dealer

verb

Give official permission for or approval to (an undertaking or agent).

Usage examples:

The troops were authorized to use force

Having official permission to do something or for something to happen

Usage examples:

This is a restricted area, open to authorized personnel only., she is writing an authorized biograp…

adjective

Relating to or used for formal religious or public events.

Usage examples:

A ceremonial occasion

noun

The system of rules and procedures to be observed at a formal or religious occasion.

Usage examples:

The procedure was conducted with all due ceremonial

adjective

Related to, used in, or involving a ceremony (= a fixed set of formal acts performed on important social or religious occasions)

Usage examples:

A marine honour guard flanks the president during ceremonial events at the white house., the men we…

adjective

Relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions.

Usage examples:

A great hall where ceremonious and public appearances were made

adjective

Officially recognized as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards.

Usage examples:

A certified accountant

verb

Attest or confirm in a formal statement.

Usage examples:

The profits for the year had been certified by the auditors

adjective

Having a document that proves you have successfully completed a course of training

Usage examples:

A certified teacher, [ + to infinitive ] she is certified to practice medicine.

adjective

Based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

Usage examples:

A conventional morality had dictated behaviour

adjective

Following the usual practices of the past

Usage examples:

We were raised in a conventional, middle-class family., it’s a conventional hot-water heater (= of …

adjective

Relating to accepted or traditional ways of doing something

Usage examples:

Conventional accounting/business practices/methods, it is estimated that over one-third of sub-prim…

adjective

Very polite or refined, as befitting a royal court.

Usage examples:

He gave a courtly bow

adjective

Polite and formal in behaviour

Usage examples:

Quiet courtly life did not satisfy the king.

adjective

Having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect.

Usage examples:

She maintained a dignified silence

verb

Make (something) seem worthy and impressive.

Usage examples:

The americans had dignified their departure with a ceremony

adjective

Serious and graceful in manner or style in a way that deserves respect

Usage examples:

A quiet, dignified person

verb

Record (something) in written, photographic, or other form.

Usage examples:

The photographer spent years documenting the lives of miners

noun

A piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record.

Usage examples:

The site provides access to official documents and reports, but not any political analysis.

adjective

(of clothes) suitable for a smart or formal occasion.

Usage examples:

Wear something dressy, kate, we've got to go to a drinks party

adjective

(of clothing) suitable for formal occasions

Usage examples:

I have some dressy shoes that i can wear to the wedding.

adjective

Involving many carefully arranged parts or details; detailed and complicated in design and planning.

Usage examples:

Elaborate security precautions

verb

Develop or present (a theory, policy, or system) in further detail.

Usage examples:

The theory was proposed by cope and elaborated by osborn

adjective

Containing a lot of connected parts or many complicated details

Usage examples:

An elaborate ceremony, an elaborate fireworks display, they had created elaborate computer programs…

verb

Declare one's public approval or support of.

Usage examples:

The report was endorsed by the college

verb

Past simple and past participle of endorse

Usage examples:

The council is expected to endorse the committee's recommendations., formal i fully endorse (= agre…

adjective

Fastened securely in position.

Usage examples:

A fixed iron ladder down the port side

verb

Fasten (something) securely in a particular place or position.

Usage examples:

They had candles fixed to their helmets

adjective

Not changing

Usage examples:

A fixed stare, a fixed address, she stared fixedly at the screen.

adjective

Conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules.

Usage examples:

It is an offence to carry a weapon in public without lawful authority

adjective

Permitted by law; legal

Usage examples:

The judge concluded that the search of the house had been lawful.

adjective

Allowed by law

Usage examples:

The judge concluded that the search of the offices had been lawful., lawful authority/excuse/purpos…

adjective

Relating to the law.

Usage examples:

The european legal system

adjective

Connected with or allowed by the law

Usage examples:

The legal profession, the legal right to vote, the contract is legally binding.

adjective

Connected with the system of law within a country or area

Usage examples:

The department is seeking legal advice on the permitted development rule., there isn't a formal leg…

adjective

Conforming to the law or to rules.

Usage examples:

His claims to legitimate authority

verb

Make lawful or justify.

Usage examples:

The regime was not legitimated by popular support

adjective

Allowed according to law, or reasonable and acceptable

Usage examples:

A legitimate tax deduction, legitimate concerns

adjective

Having an official licence.

Usage examples:

A licensed taxi operator

verb

Grant a licence to.

Usage examples:

A pub has to be licensed by the local justices

adjective

Having official permission to do, have, or sell something

Usage examples:

You should ensure that your investment adviser is licensed., the goods originated from state inspec…

adjective

Relating to an authority or public body and its activities and responsibilities.

Usage examples:

The prime minister's official engagements

noun

A person holding public office or having official duties, especially as a representative of an organization or government department.

Usage examples:

A union official

noun

A person who has a position of responsibility in an organization

Usage examples:

A senior official, an official announcement, the name of the new director will be officially announ…

adjective

Elaborately or highly decorated.

Usage examples:

An ornate wrought-iron railing

adjective

Having a lot of decoration

Usage examples:

Ornate jewelry/buildings

adjective

Following or conforming to the traditional or generally accepted rules or beliefs of a religion, philosophy, or practice.

Usage examples:

Burke's views were orthodox in his time

adjective

(of beliefs, ideas, or activities) following generally accepted beliefs or standards

Usage examples:

Orthodox methods of teaching, any questioning of conservative orthodoxy was viewed as an act of bet…

adjective

Traditional, and accepted by most people

Usage examples:

Orthodox economic theory has failed to explain the role of technological change in society., orthod…

abbreviation

Page.

Usage examples:

See p 784

symbol

(in units of measurement) pico- (10−12).

Usage examples:

A 220 pf capacitor

noun

The sixteenth letter of the alphabet.

Usage examples:

Let’s have an ‘s’ for speedy, and a ‘p’ for polly, intertwined on the top of the cake, in red frost…

verb

(of a medical practitioner) advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in writing.

Usage examples:

Her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets

adjective

Set by a rule or order

Usage examples:

The product will have to meet internationally prescribed (= demanded) standards., the patient was t…

adjective

Decided by a doctor as treatment

Usage examples:

The patient was taking a widely prescribed sedative.

adjective

Denoting something that is truly what it is said or regarded to be; genuine.

Usage examples:

She's never had a proper job

adverb

Satisfactorily or correctly.

Usage examples:

My eyes were all blurry and i couldn't see proper

noun

The part of a church service that varies with the season or feast.

Usage examples:

We go to the high mass, with plainsong propers sung by the ritual choir

verb

Identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before; know again.

Usage examples:

I recognized her when her wig fell off

noun

A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

Usage examples:

Ancient fertility rituals

adjective

Relating to or done as a religious or solemn rite.

Usage examples:

Ritual burial

noun

A set of actions or words performed in a regular way, often as part of a religious ceremony

Usage examples:

[ c ] my morning ritual includes reading the newspaper while i drink my coffee.

adjective

Relating to or characteristic of rituals followed as part of a religious or solemn ceremony.

Usage examples:

A ritualistic act of worship

adjective

Connected with or like a ritual (= a set of fixed actions, especially ones performed as part of a ceremony)

Usage examples:

The ritualistic sacrifice of animals, her daily exercise routine is regular, almost ritualistic.

verb

Give official permission or approval for (an action).

Usage examples:

The scheme was sanctioned by the court

noun

A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.

Usage examples:

A range of sanctions aimed at deterring insider abuse

noun

Official permission or approval for an action.

Usage examples:

He appealed to the bishop for his sanction

verb

Put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.

Usage examples:

Delaney set the mug of tea down

noun

A group or collection of things that belong together or resemble one another or are usually found together.

Usage examples:

A set of false teeth

verb

Variant spelling of sett.

adjective

Formal and dignified.

Usage examples:

A solemn procession

adjective

Impressive or grand in size, appearance, or manner.

Usage examples:

A stately 19th-century mansion

adjective

Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.

Usage examples:

The traditional festivities of the church year

adjective

Following or belonging to the ways of behaving or beliefs that have been established for a long time

Usage examples:

The traditional two-parent family, traditional southern cooking, the traditional politeness of japa…

adjective

(of an argument or point) having a sound basis in logic or fact; reasonable or cogent.

Usage examples:

A valid criticism

adjective

Based on truth or reason; able to be accepted

Usage examples:

The money was gone, and the only valid conclusion was that someone had stolen it., you must have a …

adjective

A valid ticket, document, agreement, etc. is legal and can be officially accepted, usually for a particular period of time

Usage examples:

Is this ticket still valid?, a credit card is not usually accepted as a valid form of i.d., applica…

verb

Check or prove the validity or accuracy of.

Usage examples:

All analytical methods should be validated in respect of accuracy

verb

Past simple and past participle of validate

Usage examples:

The data is validated automatically by the computer after it has been entered., uk it is a one-year…

verb

Make sure or demonstrate that (something) is true, accurate, or justified.

Usage examples:

His conclusions have been verified by later experiments

verb

Past simple and past participle of verify

Usage examples:

Are you able to verify your account/allegation/report/theory?, these numbers are surprisingly high …