formalism

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: formalise, formalist, formulism, normalism, formalize, formality, formulist, moralism, mortalism, normalise, formalised

Antonyms: formalise, formalist, formulism, normalism, formalize, formality, formulist, moralism, mortalism, normalise, formalised

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. Strict [[adherence]] to a given form of conduct, practice etc.
2. {{lb|en|computing}} One of several alternative computational paradigms for a given theory.
3. {{lb|en|literature}} An approach to interpretation and/or evaluation focused on the (usually linguistic) structure of a literary work rather than on the contexts of its origin or reception.
4. {{lb|en|music}} The tendency to elevate formal above expressive value in music, as in [[serialism]].
5. {{lb|en|mathematics|physics}} A particular [[mathematical]] or [[scientific]] theory or [[description]] of a given state or effect.
6. {{lb|en|linguistics|computing|mathematics}} A [[formal]] expression of a [[grammar]]; a [[formal grammar]]; a set of rules of [[syntax]] that, without reference to [[semantics]], determine whether a sequence of [[symbol]]s is a [[well-formed]] sentence in a given [[formal language]].
7. {{lb|en|philosophy of mathematics}} The [[ontological]] view of mathematics as a mere [[collection]] of [[string]] [[manipulation]] [[rule]]s.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.