1
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
bowing to your guest is a formality you don't need to perform for me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
churchgoers loved the formalities of a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formality
The campaign positioned wine as part of everyday cultural moments — at concerts, at home, and with friends — rather than something that required education or formality.
—
Erica Duecy, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Enthusiasm, not formality, is the order of the day.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Independent directors, clear documents and a thoughtful composition aligned to strategy can transform governance from a formality into a growth engine.
—Wendy Stewart, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Cooper was out of collegiate eligibility, so the declaring was just that — a formality.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Erica Duecy, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Enthusiasm, not formality, is the order of the day.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Independent directors, clear documents and a thoughtful composition aligned to strategy can transform governance from a formality into a growth engine.
—Wendy Stewart, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Cooper was out of collegiate eligibility, so the declaring was just that — a formality.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formality
Noun
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited Herzog to visit as a gesture of unity with Jewish Australians after 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah festival near Sydney’s Bondi Beach – the worst terror attack committed in the country.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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This week the arriving athletes seemed more interested in getting accustomed to their free Samsung phones and using their own gestures to direct a robotic hand behind glass to pick up a plastic ball encasing a mystery Olympic pin.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Spa’s Herb Garden taps the island’s organic bounty, growing plants used in treatments, rituals, and teas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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In one, second-generation immigrant Gloria (Katy Correa) returns to her father’s home village in rural Guinea-Bissau for a traditional memorial ritual to mark the old man’s recent passing, and to introduce her twentysomething daughter Nour (D’Johé Kouadio) to her ancestral motherland.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For those gray, dreary Berlin February days, the Berlinale this year is offering a colorful fever dream of a cinematic antidote courtesy of Pakistan.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Reviews from most of the out-of-town papers mostly arrived courtesy of the clipping service.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The team is now part of the official opening ceremonies in the same way as individual competing countries are represented.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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Queen Emma was the first to wear the sapphire tiara in official portraits and solemn ceremonies, setting a precedent that her successors respected.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Much like the Christian and Catholic observances of the Lent season leading up to Easter, Ramadan’s date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, since it’s based on the lunar calendar.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
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Each year, the organization that launched the observance announces a national theme.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formality. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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