for ‧ mal ‧ ize BrE AmE ( also formalise British English ) /ˈfɔːməlaɪz $ ˈfɔːr-/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ formality ≠ ↑ informality , ↑ formalization ; verb : ↑ formalize ; adverb : ↑ formally ≠ ↑ informally ; adjective : ↑ formal ≠ ↑ informal ]
to make a plan, decision, or idea official, especially by deciding and clearly describing all the details:
Final arrangements for the takeover have yet to be formalized.
—formalization /ˌfɔːməlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌfɔːrmələ-/ noun [uncountable]