formal
for·mal/ˈfɔɹməl/adjective, noun
formal is spelled F-O-R-M-A-L: 6 letters and 2 syllables (for·mal). It appears 28 times per million words in written English, the 3,288th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). People search “formal vs informal” about 2,400 times a month (Google, United States). As an adjective, formal means “In accordance with established forms” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in formal?
| Letters | 6: F-O-R-M-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: for·mal |
| In writing | 28 times per million words; the 3,288th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Pairs people search | |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); Bing searches in the United States: the average month from September 2025 to August 2026 (Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, read September 30, 2026); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is formal?
Formal appears 28 times per million words in written English, the 3,288th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce formal?
- US /ˈfɔɹməl/
- UK /ˈfɔːməl/
Formal has 2 syllables, split for·mal in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-formal.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with formal
Word pairs people search, with the monthly searches for “a vs b” (G: Google, B: Bing, United States).
Sources: Google and Bing searches (September 2025 to August 2026, through DataForSEO); English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with formal?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as formal from its last stressed vowel (/ɔɹməl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of formal
- more formal comparative
- most formal superlative
- formals plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does formal mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
In accordance with established forms.
She spoke formal English, without any dialect.
- 2
Official.
I'd like to make a formal complaint.
- 3
Relating to the form or structure of something.
Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.
- 4
Relating to formation.
The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.
- 5
Ceremonial or traditional.
Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!
- 6
Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.
He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.
- 7
Organized; well-structured and planned.
When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.
- 8
In accordance with a methodological framework with well-defined rules or laws; rigorous.
Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake”.
noun
- 1
An evening gown.
- 2
An event with a formal dress code.
Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.
- 3
A formal parameter.
- 4
Ellipsis of formal hall.
- 5
Formalin.
- 6
An acetal formed from formaldehyde.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate formal?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of formal: fml.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Formal in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | formel, soutenu , officiel |
| German | formal, formell , förmlich, offiziell , Form- |
| Portuguese | formal |
| Spanish | formal , protocolario |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does formal come from?
From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin fōrmālis, from fōrma (“form”); equivalent to form + -al.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).