formal

What does “formal” mean in English?

1. formal — following established conventions; suitable for official or serious occasions

   formal — following established conventions; suitable for official or serious occasions (lenguaje formal, reunión formal)

Example sentences

• Presentaron una queja formal ante la dirección por incumplimiento de las condiciones pactadas en el contrato.

  They submitted a formal complaint to the management for breach of the conditions agreed in the contract.

• La educación formal no es la única vía para adquirir competencias profesionales; la experiencia también cuenta.

  Formal education is not the only route to acquiring professional skills; experience also counts.

How to use it

Formal means 'formal' — following established conventions; appropriate to official or serious occasions. Key contrasts: formal vs informal (register), formal vs real/efectivo (legal), formal vs sustantivo (substance vs procedure). Ser: always ser. Important collocations: queja formal, acuerdo formal, educación formal, lenguaje formal.

Topics

• Evaluative
• Social

Related B2 words

• enorme
• principal
• particular
• voluntario
• menor
• fundamental
• preciso/a
• próximo