formally
FAW-muh-lee
Formally (adv) means In an official or proper way. Example: “The two companies formally agreed to the terms in a signed letter.”
adv
1
In an official or proper way.
"The two companies formally agreed to the terms in a signed letter."
"The mayor formally opened the new library."
"She was formally introduced to the board members."
How to use formally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOfficially or according to accepted, proper procedure.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "formerly" (meaning "in the past") — they sound almost identical but mean very different things.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like formally.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more formally
- Superlative
- most formally
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two companies _____ agreed to the terms in a signed letter.
Etymology
From formal + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for formally
See all rhymes for formally →Frequently asked questions
What does “formally” mean?
The word “formally” means in an official or proper way. In plain terms, officially or according to accepted, proper procedure.
How do you pronounce “formally”?
“Formally” is pronounced FAW-muh-lee (/ˈfɔɹ.mə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “formally” in a sentence?
Here is “formally” used in a sentence: “The mayor formally opened the new library.”
What is the opposite of “formally”?
The opposite of “formally” — its antonyms — is informally.
What part of speech is “formally”?
“Formally” is an adverb.
Is “formally” a common word?
“Formally” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between formally and formerly?
Formally means in an official or proper way, as in "the deal was formally approved." Formerly means previously or in the past, as in "the company was formerly based in London." They sound almost identical, which is why the two are so often confused in writing.
Is it "formerly known as" or "formally known as"?
When you mean that something used to have a different name, the phrase is "formerly known as," using the adverb that means previously. "Formally known as" is also possible English, but it means "officially known as" — the proper or official name — so the two phrases make different claims.
When should you use formally instead of officially?
The words overlap when describing official action, and either fits in a sentence like "the merger was formally approved." Formally also covers manner and etiquette — dressing formally or speaking formally — where officially would not work, so formally is the broader choice.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include formally:
