Phrase Hound found 42 phrases and 30 compound words that contain formal. The most common are listed below. Open formal in the live search for definitions, filters, and the full list.
Phrases 42
- formal educationEducation in a structured environment explicitly designed to teach students, usually in classrooms with certified teachers.
- formal languageA set of finite strings (called words) made of symbols (from a finite set of symbols, called an alphabet).
- formal wearAlternative spelling of formalwear: Clothing suited to formal occasions
- Formal complaint
- formal systemThe grouping of a formal language and a set of inference rules and/or axioms.
- formal scienceA study that is concerned with theoretical formal systems, such as logic, mathematics, systems theory and the theoretical branches of computer science, information theory, statistics, and linguistics.
- formal power seriesAny finite or infinite series of the form a_0+a_1x+a_2x²…=∑ᵢa_ixⁱ, where the aᵢ are numbers, but it is understood that no value is assigned to x.
- formal causeThe design, pattern, or pure concept of a thing, which gives form or structure to its matter.
- formal grammarA precise mathematical description of a formal language, consisting of terminal symbols, nonterminal symbols, a nonterminal symbol serving as start symbol, and a set of production rules that control the expansion of nonterminal symbols …
- business formalA style of professional dress that is the most formal level of business attire.
- formal causesplural of formal cause: The design, pattern, or pure concept of a thing, which gives form or structure to its matter.
- formal chargeThe charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that electrons in all chemical bonds are shared equally between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.
- formal chargesplural of formal charge: The charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, assuming that electrons in all chemical bonds are shared equally between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.
- formal hallA formal meal held in a college hall, generally with a grace, waiting staff and a set menu with multiple courses; usually held once or twice per week.
- formal languagesplural of formal language: A set of finite strings (called words) made of symbols (from a finite set of symbols, called an alphabet).
- formal logicMathematical logic.
- formal parameterAn abstract representation, typically including a name and a type, of a parameter expected to be passed to a method or function.
- formal parametersplural of formal parameter: An abstract representation, typically including a name and a type, of a parameter expected to be passed to a method or function.
- formal sciencesplural of formal science: A study that is concerned with theoretical formal systems, such as logic, mathematics, systems theory and the theoretical branches of computer science, information theory, statistics, and linguistics.
- formal systemsplural of formal system: The grouping of a formal language and a set of inference rules and/or axioms.
- formal sumAn expression which looks like a sum but where the symbol + has a purely symbolic role, in the sense that the summands cannot be meaningfully combined.
- formal semanticsThe study of the semantics, or interpretations, of formal languages.
- formal equivalenceAn approach to translation centered on preserving formal features (such as vocabulary or syntax) of the source in the translated text; word-for-word equivalence.
- formal sociologyA scientific approach to sociology based on the form, rather than the content, of interactions.
- formal fallacyA pattern of reasoning which is always wrong, due to a flaw in the structure of the argument.
Compound words 30
- formalityThe state of being formal.
- semiformalSomewhat formal.
- nonformalNot formal.
- microformalPertaining to the internal structure of a single phrase.
- formaleseThe style of language used in formal contexts.
- hyperformalVery highly formal; formal for formality's sake.
- unformalNot formal.
- formalesquemodernist; of the artistic style of the period from around 1890 to 1960
- formalishSomewhat formal.
- formalnessQuality of being formal.