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# formality

«formality» in Mova's school dictionary: **Something that must be done because of rules or custom…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (formality, formalities)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Something that must be done because of rules or custom, often a small step that does not change the result: «just a formality». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#m1)

2) Polite, stiff and correct behaviour, as at an important ceremony. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#m2)

3) An official step, such as signing forms at a border. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life it describes paperwork and rules: «passport formalities». In stories, «it's only a formality» tells the reader that something is sure to happen. It also describes how stiff or relaxed an event is. Phrases: just a formality, a mere formality, without formality, legal formalities.

### examples

- Signing the form is just a formality; you are already in the team. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x1)
- The formality of the wedding made the little boy nervous. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x2)
- At the airport we went through the usual formalities. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x3)
- Let's skip the formalities and start the game. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x4)
- Asking Dad was a formality; he always says yes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x5)
- The headteacher spoke with great formality at assembly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/#x6)

### note

Plural: formalities. Adjective: formal; opposite: informality. «A mere formality» is a common phrase meaning something easy and certain.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «formality» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.