/ fɔːˈmæləti; NAmE fɔːrˈm-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C , usually pl. ] a thing that you must do as a formal or official part of a legal process, a social situation, etc. :
to go through all the formalities necessary in order to get a gun licence
Let's skip the formalities and get down to business.
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] a thing that you must do as part of an official process, but which has little meaning and will not affect what happens :
He already knows he has the job so the interview is a mere formality.
3.
[ U ] correct and formal behaviour :
Different levels of formality are appropriate in different situations.
She greeted him with stiff formality.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense accordance with legal rules or conventions ): from French formalité or medieval Latin formalitas , from formalis , from forma shape, mould.