FORMAL'ITY, noun 1. The practice or observance of forms. Formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate then in desperate designs. 2. Ceremony; mere conformity to customary modes. Nor was his attendance on divine offices a matter of formality and custom, but of conscience. 3. Established order; rule of proceeding; mode; method; as the formalities of judicial process; formalities of law. 4. Order; decorum to be observed; customary mode of behavior. 5. Customary mode of dress; habit; robe. 6. External appearance. 7. Essence; the quality which constitutes a thing what it is. The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God. 8. In the schools, the manner in which a thing is conceived; or a manner in an object, importing a relation to the understanding, by which it may be distinguished from another object. Thus animality and rationality are formalities.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI