formality

formality
noun
1 action that is necessary according to custom/law
ADJECTIVE
mere

Your acceptance into the club will be a mere formality.

customs, legal (both esp. BrE)
VERB + FORMALITY
complete (esp. BrE), deal with, go through

It only took a few minutes to complete the legal formalities.

dispense with, drop (esp. AmE)

Let's dispense with the formalities and get down to work.

PHRASES
just a formality, merely a formality, only a formality

She was clearly the best candidate for the job, so her interview was just a formality.

2 polite/formal way of behaving
ADJECTIVE
stiff
… OF FORMALITY
degree, level

It is important to be aware of the level of formality required at any social function.

VERB + FORMALITY
maintain

She preferred to maintain a cool formality in her dealings with her manager.


Collocations dictionary. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • formality — for‧mal‧i‧ty [fɔːˈmælti ǁ fɔːr ] noun formalities PLURALFORM [countable usually plural] LAW 1. something formal or official that you have to do so that a process can be completed properly: • immigration and customs formalities • Certain… …   Financial and business terms

  • Formality — For*mal i*ty, n.; pl. {Formalities}. [Cf. F. formalit[ e].] 1. The condition or quality of being formal, strictly ceremonious, precise, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. Form without substance. [1913 Webster] Such [books] as are mere pieces of formality, so …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • formality — formality, formalism The first is the ordinary noun corresponding to formal: formality is primarily the observance of rules and conventions, a formality is something that has to be done by convention (often with implications of superfluousness:… …   Modern English usage

  • formality — [n1] convention, custom academism, ceremony, convenance, conventionality, form, gesture, liturgy, matter of form*, officialism, procedure, red tape*, rite, ritual, rituality, rubric, rule, service, solemnity, solemnness, stereotype, tradition;… …   New thesaurus

  • formality — ► NOUN (pl. formalities) 1) the rigid observance of rules or convention. 2) a thing done simply to comply with convention or regulations. 3) (a formality) a thing done or occurring as a matter of course; an inevitability …   English terms dictionary

  • formality — I noun ceremonial rite, ceremoniousness, ceremony, convention, conventionality, correctness, custom, decorum, established mode, etiquette, formalness, observance of form, outward form, prescribed form, propriety, punctilio, rigidity, rigidness,… …   Law dictionary

  • formality — (n.) 1530s, agreement as to form, from M.Fr. formalité (15c.) or directly from L. formalis formal (see FORMAL (Cf. formal)). Originally literary form; meaning something done for the sake of form is from 1590s. Related: Formalities …   Etymology dictionary

  • formality — *form, ceremony, ceremonial, rite, liturgy, ritual Analogous words: convention, convenance, usage, *form: practice, custom, *habit, use, wont …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • formality — [fôr mal′ə tē] n. [Fr formalité] 1. the quality or state of being formal; specif., a) a following or observing of prescribed customs, rules, ceremonies, etc.; propriety b) careful or too careful attention to order, regularity, precision, or… …   English World dictionary

  • formality — for|mal|i|ty [ fɔr mæləti ] noun * 1. ) count usually plural something that must be done as part of an official process or that you are expected to do in a social situation: We went through the usual formalities at customs and passport control.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”