Formal Meaning in English
word
释义
Used for situations, language, clothes, or behavior that follow official or traditional rules and are more serious than casual everyday style. It can also describe a polite but distant way of speaking or acting.
用法与细微差别
Common with nouns like 'formal dress', 'formal education', 'formal complaint', and 'formal invitation'. 'Formal' often contrasts with 'casual' or 'informal'. For language, 'formal' means more polite and structured; for events or clothes, it means elegant or official. A person can sound 'too formal' if they seem stiff.
例句
He wore a formal suit to the wedding.
basic
Please use formal language in your email.
basic
The meeting was formal and very quiet.
basic
You don't need to be so formal with me—we know each other well.
natural
The invitation says formal, so jeans are probably not a good idea.
natural
Her message sounded a bit too formal, like she was talking to a customer.
natural