formally
USFOR-muh-lee/ˈfɔɹ.mə.li/SayFAW-muh-leeUK/ˈfɔː.mə.li/AUS/ˈfoː.mə.li/
Often confused with formerly
- 1In a way that follows official procedure.
The mayor will formally announce her candidacy at a rally on Monday.
The two countries formally ended the war when they signed the treaty.
Similarofficially
Oppositeinformally, unofficially
- 2In a manner that is formal rather than casual or relaxed.
The guests were dressed more formally than the hosts had expected.
She addressed the old professor formally, as Dr. Hale, even after years of friendship.
Oppositeinformally, casually
- 3In a way that follows a set of rigorous rules exactly.
Many people had checked the theorem, but no one had formally proved it.
The language is formally defined, so every program has exactly one meaning.
Similarrigorously
Oppositeinformally
Practice
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Origin
Formed from formal + -ly.