1
as in unconventional
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an informal meeting allowed everyone to get acquainted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in casual
not designed to be worn only on special occasions
chose an informal flowery dress
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
the use of informal language in a scholarly article is really inappropriate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of informal
Tshisekedi, who last December signed a US government partnership to prioritize US investors in its mining sector, linked the latest investment opportunity directly to security, arguing that illicit mining and informal supply chains help fuel violence in eastern DR Congo.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The party was a most enjoyable dance, typical of the charming informal entertainments for which the club is noted.
—From Staff Reports, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Feb. 2026
The parties have also met in informal settings to discuss the proposals.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Texas finished second in the rankings only behind Kentucky, which picked up all 16 first-place votes in the informal poll.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The party was a most enjoyable dance, typical of the charming informal entertainments for which the club is noted.
—From Staff Reports, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Feb. 2026
The parties have also met in informal settings to discuss the proposals.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Texas finished second in the rankings only behind Kentucky, which picked up all 16 first-place votes in the informal poll.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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Smith for some time has dangled the prospect of running as an unconventional candidate against a field of career politicians, but there’s a big gap between not ruling out a run and actually doing it.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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Creative director Heginz Janvier transformed classic silhouettes such as trenchcoats and cargo pants into new offerings by creating them from technical fabrics and adding pockets in unconventional locations, such as above the ankles or on the waist.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The pair leaned in close for a casual selfie, sharing the beach day with her followers.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Locking that feature risks alienating casual users who rely on free access.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The city of big apples, hand-tossed pizzas and the colloquial adverb deadass.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
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This time around, our Traitors and Faithfuls are a beautiful assortment of Housewives, Survivors, athletes, actors, and plenty of mothers — both literal (Donna Kelce) and in the colloquial sense (Porsha Williams).—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some authors of quasi-impossible books like Nabokov (Ada, or Ardor), Pynchon (Gravity’s Rainbow) and Wallace (Infinite Jest) nevertheless manage to write unfailingly entertaining sentences that never lose a certain vernacular crackle, and that are often funny.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
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Poverty pimp entered the vernacular as shorthand for a nonprofit leader who became expert at accessing federal money while deflecting oversight demands as anti-poor.—
Stephen Eide,
The Atlantic,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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