/ ˈfɔːməlɪzəm; NAmE ˈfɔːrm-/ noun
[ U ] a style or method in art, music, literature, science, etc. that pays more attention to the rules and the correct arrangement and appearance of things than to inner meaning and feelings
► for·mal·ist / ˈfɔːməlɪst; NAmE ˈfɔːrm-/ noun
► for·mal·ist adjective [ usually before noun ]:
formalist theory