formal

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

adj. structural; external, superficial, outward; stylized, conventional, ceremonial, ritual[is-tic], traditional; solemn, dignified; stuffy, strict, prim; correct, proper.

See conformity, fashion, affectation. — n. evening dress; black tie, white tie [and tails]. See clothing.

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

1. [Notable for arrangement]

Syn. orderly, precise, set, symmetrical; see regular 3 .

2. [Concerned with etiquette and behavior]

Syn. reserved, distant, stiff, ceremonious; see conventional 2 , 3 , polite 1 .

3. [Official]

Syn. prescribed, confirmed, directed, lawful; see approved , legal 1 .

4. [In or requiring evening clothes]

Syn. full-dress, black tie, white tie, dressy, dressed up, ceremonious, social, in tails and top hat, in one's glad rags*, in a soup and fish*.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) a.

1. ceremonial decorous, orderly, customary, proper, conventional, methodical, ritualistic, systematic, official, prescribed, correct, *by-the-book.

2. stiff stuffy, *starched, prim, ceremonious, stilted, strait-laced, punctilious, rigid, proper, self-conscious.

ANT.: 1. spontaneous, unconventional, uncustomary. 2. informal, relaxed, casual

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) adjective 1. Fond of or given to ceremony: ceremonious, conventional, courtly, punctilious. See COURTESY. 2. Of or characterized by ceremony: ceremonial, ceremonious, liturgical, ritual, ritualistic. See RITUAL. 3. Requiring elegant clothes and fine manners: dressy, full-dress. See PLAIN.