adjective
[more ~; most ~] :requiring or using serious and proper clothes and manners
[more ~; most ~] of language :suitable for serious or official speech and writing
made or done in an official and usually public way
done in a proper way according to the law
arranged in a very orderly and regular way
[more ~; most ~] :showing great concern for behaving in a proper and serious way
received in a school
relating to the form of something (such as a piece of writing) rather than the content
noun
plural -mals
[count] US :a social gathering (such as a dance) that requires formal dress and manners :a formal event
US