formality
/fɔːrˈmælɪti/noun
formality is spelled F-O-R-M-A-L-I-T-Y: 9 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 1.4 times per million words in written English, the 23,835th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, formality means “The state of being formal” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of formality is formalities.
How many letters and syllables are in formality?
| Letters | 9: F-O-R-M-A-L-I-T-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.4 times per million words; the 23,835th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is formality?
Formality appears 1.4 times per million words in written English, the 23,835th 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 formality?
- /fɔːrˈmælɪti/
Formality has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-AGuy271-formality.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of formality
- formalities plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does formality mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The state of being formal.
- 2
Something said or done as a matter of form.
- 3
A customary ritual without substance, real consequence, or unique meaning.
The examination for priesthood is no mere formality, so we have to study well.
- 4
A specific requirement for obtaining a legal status, conducting a transaction, etc.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Formality in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | formalité |
| Spanish | formalidad |
| German | Formalität |
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 formality come from?
From Middle French formalité. equivalent to formal + -ity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).