formalise
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To make something formal or official: To give something a definite, structured, or ceremonial character, often by following established rules or procedures.
- To validate or ratify legally or officially: To make an agreement, decision, or arrangement legally binding or officially recognized.
Usage and Examples
To make formal or official:
- The committee voted to formalise the new policy next month.
- They held a small ceremony to formalise their partnership.
To declare or make legally valid:
- The treaty was formalised by the signatures of both presidents.
- We need to formalise the contract before any work begins.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Institutional Context: Often used when an informal practice or understanding is given official status within an organization or system.
- The university moved to formalise the mentoring program for all first-year students.
- Legal and Diplomatic Context: Commonly used regarding agreements, treaties, marriages, or adoptions becoming legally effective.
- The adoption will be formalised in court next week.
Variants and Related Words
- Formalize: The preferred spelling in American English. The meaning is identical to 'formalise'.
- Formalisation (Noun): The act or process of making something formal.
- The formalisation of the rules took several months.
- Formal (Adjective): Following or according with established form, custom, or rule.
- They wore formal attire to the dinner.
Synonyms
- Ratify: To give formal consent, making something officially valid.
- Validate: To check or prove the validity or legality of something.
- Officialize: To make official (less common synonym).
- Solemnize: To perform a ceremony, especially for a marriage.
Antonyms
- Informalize: To make less formal (rarely used).
- Annul: To declare invalid or void.
- Cancel: To decide that something will not happen or is no longer valid.
Related Phrases and Collocations
- To formalise an agreement/arrangement: To make an agreement official.
- To formalise a relationship: To give a personal relationship (e.g., business, diplomatic) an official status.
- To formalise procedures: To document and establish official ways of doing things.
Verb
- declare or make legally valid
- make formal or official
- We formalized the appointment and gave him a title