Formally vs formerly
Formally means in an official or proper way, not a casual one. Formerly means at an earlier time, but not now.
Formally comes from formal. Formerly comes from former, which means earlier.
formally adverb
In an official way that follows the proper steps, or in a proper rather than casual way.
- The mayor will formally announce her candidacy at a rally on Monday.
- The guests were dressed more formally than the hosts had expected.
formerly adverb
At an earlier time, but not any longer.
- The company, formerly a family business, was sold to investors last year.
- The library was formerly a train station.
Watch out
- Formally can also mean by following strict rules exactly, as in a mathematical or logical proof.Many people had checked the theorem, but no one had formally proved it.
Test yourself
The bakery on Main Street was blank a bank.
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formerly. It was a bank at an earlier time, but it is not now.
The two countries blank signed the peace treaty in June.
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formally. Signing a treaty is an official act, done by the proper steps.
Students must dress blank for the graduation dinner.
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formally. This means in a proper way, not a casual one.
My neighbor, blank a teacher, now runs a café.
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formerly. She was a teacher at an earlier time, but she is not now.
Full entries: formallyformerly