informal
adjective
in·for·mal
(ˌ)in-ˈfȯr-məl 
1
: marked by the absence of formality or ceremony
an informal meeting
2
: characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary, casual, or familiar use
informal clothes
Examples of informal in a Sentence
We had an informal meeting over lunch.
He has an informal manner that puts people at ease.
He spoke to them in informal Spanish.
The term is common in informal contexts.
He took an informal poll among his coworkers.
Recent Examples on the Web
When the executive order goes into effect, de minimis packages from China will be subject to an informal entry process, and each package that travels to the U.S. via international post will now be subject to a tariff rate of 120 percent or $100, a rate that will increase to $200 after June 1.
—
Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
What exactly are the rules for saving seats at an informal event where seats are not assigned?
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Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
The surrounding land is still mostly occupied by coffee farms, with the occasional informal neighborhood wedged among rolling hills.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
The first meeting, in late September, was held in the bar of one of the city’s quieter restaurants but the discussion was again short and informal until Hughes asked Abbas whether Salah wanted to stay at Liverpool.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
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Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
What exactly are the rules for saving seats at an informal event where seats are not assigned?
Related Articles
Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
The surrounding land is still mostly occupied by coffee farms, with the occasional informal neighborhood wedged among rolling hills.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
The first meeting, in late September, was held in the bar of one of the city’s quieter restaurants but the discussion was again short and informal until Hughes asked Abbas whether Salah wanted to stay at Liverpool.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informal. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
informal
adjective
in·for·mal
(ˈ)in-ˈfȯr-məl
1
: not formal
an informal party
2
: suited for ordinary or everyday use
informal clothes
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