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Synonyms for in formal
adj casual, simple

unofficial
relaxed
spontaneous
straightforward
intimate
breezy
colloquial
congenial
cool
democratic
easy

easygoing
everyday
extempore
familiar
folksy
frank
free
homey
inconspicuous
loose
mellow

mixed
motley
natural
open
ordinary
sporty
unceremonious
unconventional
unrestrained
urbane
off-the-cuff

unconstrained
down home
free-and-easy
improv
laid back
low-pressure
throwaway
unfussy
without ceremony

Antonyms for in formal

ceremonious
official
rigid

dressed-up
formal
stiff

buttoned-up

Synonyms
adj easy, lighthearted

buoyant
relaxed
peppy
sunny
carefree
racy
cheerful

blithe
lively
casual
airy
jaunty
animated
debonair

effervescent
free and easy
gay
informal
light
sparkling
spicy

spirited
sprightly
vivacious
unconstrained
easy-going
low-pressure

Antonyms

apathetic
inactive
lethargic
sorrowful
heavyhearted
peaceful

still
heavy
depressed
gloomy
unhappy
sad

serious
lifeless
calm
quiet
difficult

Synonyms
adj nonchalant, relaxed in manner

easygoing
offhand
informal
homey
folksy
laid-back
mellow
cursory

cool
aloof
apathetic
blasé
breezy
detached
indifferent
insouciant

lackadaisical
loose
perfunctory
purposeless
remote
unconcerned
uninterested
withdrawn

incurious
down home
low-pressure
pococurante
unfussy

Antonyms

agitated
upset
deliberate

painstaking
planned
premeditated

formal
serious

Synonyms
adj talkative

conversational
loquacious
intimate
informal

communicative
garrulous
friendly
colloquial

familiar
gabby
spontaneous
gossipy

talky
loose-lipped
multieloquent

Antonyms

incompatible
unfriendly
unsociable

untalkative
quiet
silent

cool
formal
reserved

Synonyms
adj average, ordinary

accepted
commonplace
natural
prevalent
simple
familiar
universal
routine
prevailing
trivial
everyday
frequent

typical
humdrum
probable
plain
daily
standard
current
regular
characteristic
general
bourgeois
stock

banal
casual
colloquial
conventional
customary
habitual
hackneyed
homely
informal
mediocre
monotonous
passable

prosaic
run-of-the-mill
stale
stereotyped
trite
undistinguished
usual
wearisome
worn-out
comformable
unvaried
workaday

Antonyms

unconventional
unorthodox
infrequent
unusual
abnormal
extraordinary
noteworthy
scarce
valuable

aristocratic
cultured
excellent
irregular
exceptional
peculiar
rare
uncommon
different

unfamiliar
original
high
noble
refined
sophisticated
superior

Synonyms
adj representative, self-governing

egalitarian
constitutional
free
orderly
popular

autonomous
common
communal
equal
friendly

informal
just
individualistic
Socialist
libertarian

populist
self-ruling

Synonyms
adj good-humored

pleasant
natural
smooth
secure
affable
amiable
carefree
casual
complaisant

diplomatic
familiar
friendly
gentle
good-natured
graceful
gracious
gregarious
informal

mild
obliging
open
polite
sociable
suave
tolerant
unaffected
unpretentious

urbane
good-tempered
relaxed
unforced
at ease
unanxious
undemanding

Antonyms

arduous
complicated
demanding
intricate
uneasy
exhausting
trying

intolerant
complex
difficult
hard
involved
laborious
oppressive

unrelaxed
impossible
strict
unpermissive
unhappy
unleisurely
onery

Synonyms
adj complacent, permissive

happy-go-lucky
serene
self-possessed
offhand
relaxed
carefree
breezy
even-tempered
mild
placid
laid-back

tranquil
unhurried
casual
amenable
calm
collected
complaisant
composed
devil-may-care
flexible
free and easy

indolent
indulgent
informal
insouciant
lazy
lenient
liberal
moderate
nonchalant
patient
tolerant

unconcerned
uncritical
uninhibited
hang-loose
low-pressure
outgiving
poised
undemanding

Antonyms

worried
agitated
excited
nervous
deliberate

planned
demanding
hurried
intolerant
upset

troubled
violent
critical
hyped
strict

Synonyms
adj common

mundane
prosaic
commonplace
normal
ordinary
frequent
usual
accustomed
average

conventional
customary
daily
dime a dozen
dull
familiar
habitual
informal
lowly

mainstream
middle-of-the-road
per diem
plain
quotidian
routine
run-of-the-mill
stock
unexceptional

unimaginative
vanilla
wonted
unremarkable
workaday
garden variety
whitebread

Antonyms

extraordinary
infrequent
unusual
abnormal

special
unexpected
rare
uncommon

irregular
different
exceptional
unfamiliar

Synonyms
adj unrehearsed, improvised

ad hoc
automatic
casual
expedient
extempore
free
immediate
impromptu
informal

made-up
makeshift
off the cuff
offhand
snap
spontaneous
unplanned
unpremeditated
unprepared

unstudied
spur-of-the-moment
ad lib
at first glance
by ear
improv
improvisatory
improviso
jamming

off the top of head
on impulse
on-the-spot
taking for ride
thought out loud
tossed off
tossed out
winging it

Antonyms

planned
prepared

read
rehearsed

written

Synonyms
adj common, well-known

simple
mundane
usual
intimate
commonplace
natural
homespun
plain
household

domestic
routine
ordinary
native
stock
accustomed
conventional
customary
everyday

frequent
habitual
humble
informal
known
matter-of-fact
old hat
prosaic
proverbial

repeated
unceremonious
unsophisticated
wonted
recognizable
garden variety
workaday

Antonyms

unusual
abnormal
extraordinary
industrial
alien
undistinguished
unknown
unremarkable
ignorant

unacquainted
aloof
unfriendly
uncommon
different
business
foreign
original
new

strange
unfamiliar
unknowledgeable
cold
cool
distant
reserved
unapproachable

Synonyms
adj friendly, bold

intimate
easy
comfortable
cordial
wise
cozy
free
forward
snug
sociable
dear

close
thick
open
smart
affable
amicable
chummy
confidential
fresh
genial
gracious

impudent
informal
intrusive
near
neighborly
nervy
obtrusive
officious
palsy-walsy
presuming
presumptuous

sassy
tight
unceremonious
unreserved
relaxed
unconstrained
palsy
buddy-buddy
free-and-easy

Antonyms

unfriendly
unsociable
stupid
unintelligent
undistinguished
unknown
unremarkable
ignorant

unacquainted
aloof
unhappy
cool
uncomfortable
loose
foreign
new

strange
uncommon
unfamiliar
unknowledgeable
cold
distant
reserved
unapproachable

Synonyms
adj unrestrained personally

independent
clear
loose
able
easy
unrestricted
open
unfettered
liberal
disengaged

frank
relaxed
escaped
familiar
forward
permitted
casual
fancy-free
footloose
informal

lax
unattached
uncommitted
unconfined
unconstrained
unimpeded
unobstructed
unregulated
at large
liberated

allowed
at liberty
free-spirited
free-wheeling
off the hook
on the loose
unengaged
unhampered
untrammeled
on one’s own

Antonyms

unclear
ambiguous
vague
restricted
expensive
high-priced
priced
bound
confined
restrained

prevented
scheduled
blocked
closed
definite
strict
reserved
costly
hindered
limited

barred
enslaved
suppressed
busy
occupied
mean
niggardly
tight-fisted
tied-up

Synonyms
adj ordinary, comfortable

comfy
cozy
domestic
everyday
familiar
friendly

homespun
homey
informal
modest
natural
plain

simple
snug
unaffected
unassuming
unpretentious
unostentatious

welcoming
homelike
inelaborate

Antonyms

attractive

beautiful

Synonyms
adj abrupt, careless

glib
curt
easygoing
folksy
perfunctory

casual
aloof
breezy
brusque
cavalier

cool
informal
laid-back
mellow
unceremonious

unconcerned
uninterested

Antonyms

careful
considered

deliberate
planned

practiced
calculated

Synonyms
adj ad-lib, extemporaneous

spontaneous
impromptu
extempore
improvised

informal
off the cuff
unpremeditated
unprepared

unrehearsed
unstudied
spur-of-the-moment
extemporary

off the hip
off the top of head
throwaway
without preparation

Antonyms

careful
considered

deliberate
planned

practiced
calculated

Synonyms
adv in the open air

rustic
outside
casual
free
garden
healthful

informal
invigorating
mountain
natural
patio
picnic

unrestricted
woods
yard
alfresco
hilltop
in the open

nature-loving
out of the house
out-of-doors

Synonyms
adj demonstrative, extroverted

warm
open
approachable
civil
communicative

cordial
easy
expansive
extrovert
friendly

genial
gregarious
informal
kind
sociable

sympathetic
unreserved
unrestrained
unconstrained

Antonyms

introverted
reclusive

shy
arriving

entering
incoming

Synonyms
adj casual; flashy

snazzy
brazen
flamboyant
flaunting

gaudy
glittering
informal
jazzy

loud
natty
ornate
showy

glittery
glitzy

Synonyms
adj very different; odd

unusual
eccentric
atypical
offbeat
individualistic
bizarre
unique
unorthodox
original

idiosyncratic
avant-garde
beat
crazy
far-out
freakish
free and easy
individual
informal

irregular
kinky
nonconformist
oddball
off the wall
out of the ordinary
unceremonious
uncommon
way-out

weirdo
freaky
kooky
anarchistic
off the beaten track
out in left field
uncustomary

Antonyms

standard
usual
common

normal
regular
ordinary

conventional
formal

Synonyms
adj free and easy; without restraint

unbridled
relaxed
candid
unrestrained
spontaneous
unrestricted
audacious
cut loose

expansive
fancy-free
footloose
frank
free
informal
instinctive
natural

off the cuff
open
unchecked
uncontrolled
unreserved
unconstrained
ungoverned
hanging out

liberated
no holds barred
uncurbed
unhampered
unrepressed
unself-conscious
unsuppressed

Antonyms

careful
inhibited

modest
shy

Synonyms
adj native, colloquial

vulgar
indigenous
local
ordinary

natural
common
dialectal
domesticated

idiomatic
informal
ingrained
inherent

popular
plebian

Antonyms

abnormal
extraordinary

uncommon
different

refined

Synonyms
adj improvised

ad hoc
ad-lib
automatic
casual
expedient
extempore
fake
free
immediate

impromptu
informal
made-up
makeshift
offhand
snap
spontaneous
unplanned
unpremeditated

unprepared
unrehearsed
unstudied
spur-of-the-moment
autoschediastic
by ear
extemporary
improv
improvisatory

improviso
jamming
on impulse
on-the-spot
toss off
toss out
winging it

Antonyms

deliberate
planned

premeditated
prepared

rehearsed

Synonyms
adj unauthorized

informal
personal

off the record
private

unconfirmed
uncorroborated

unsanctioned

Antonyms

confirmed
official

authorized
authoritative

Synonyms
adj practical

earthy
folksy
informal
levelheaded
matter-of-fact

natural
pragmatic
real
realistic
reasonable

rustic
sensible
simple
unassuming
unpretentious

commonsensical
plainspoken
sober-minded

Antonyms

dreamy

fanciful

idealistic

Synonyms
adj relaxed

boon
carefree
casual
convivial

easygoing
footloose
informal
loose

natural
unstudied
unforced
footloose and fancy-free

free as a bird
free as the wind
nonformal

Antonyms

formal

Synonyms
adj talkative

chatty
gabby

informal
loquacious

relaxed
talky

vocal
casual conversational

Synonyms
adj talkative

informal
colloquial
intimate
casual
chatty

blabby
familiar
gabby
garrulous
gossipy

long-winded
loquacious
relaxed
talky
verbose

vocal
voluble

Antonyms

formal

Synonyms
adj extemporaneous

ad hoc
ad-lib
automatic
casual
expedient
extempore
fake
free
immediate

impromptu
improvised
informal
made-up
makeshift
offhand
snap
spontaneous
spur-of-the-moment

unplanned
unpremeditated
unprepared
unrehearsed
unstudied
autoschediastic
by ear
extemporary
improv

improvisatory
improviso
jamming
on impulse
on-the-spot
toss off
toss out
winging it

Synonyms
adj easygoing

composed
serene
informal
carefree
breezy
nonchalant
calm
easy
laid-back
flexible
tranquil
tolerant

spontaneous
casual
placid
collected
moderate
amenable
complaisant
devil-may-care
even-tempered
free and easy
happy-go-lucky
indolent

indulgent
insouciant
lazy
lenient
liberal
mild
natural
offhand
patient
self-possessed
unceremonious
unconcerned

uncritical
unhurried
uninhibited
unrestrained
poised
hang-loose
low-pressure
outgiving
undemanding

Antonyms

agitated
excited
worried
rigid
intolerant

deliberate
planned
premeditated
troubled
formal

stiff
difficult
turbulent
violent
wild

Synonyms
adj extemporaneous

ad hoc
ad-lib
automatic
casual
expedient
extempore
fake
free
immediate

impromptu
improvised
informal
made-up
makeshift
offhand
snap
spontaneous
unplanned

unpremeditated
unprepared
unrehearsed
unstudied
autoschediastic
by ear
extemporary
improv
improvisatory

improviso
jamming
on impulse
on-the-spot
toss off
toss out
winging it

Usage Notes

The label Informal is used in this dictionary to mark terms that are not likely to occur in serious, prepared speech or carefully edited writing except when used intentionally to convey a casual tone. But under what circumstances is informal English apropos, appropriate, A-OK, even bitchen? What exactly is informal English? And how does it differ from slang, which is even more unlikely to occur in formal speech or edited writing? Most sources agree that informal English typically avoids long, complex sentences, features a liberal use of contractions and other casual terms, and—in speech—allows elided pronunciations like gonna for going to. The particular words and phrases that dictionaries label Informal tend to be short, metaphorical, and somewhat out of place in carefully edited, serious prose. They include terms like abs, carb, guys, big shot, spill the beans, and knock it off. Familiar, intimate, and unpretentious, in relaxed circumstances informal English is the frequent choice of a wide range of users, including educated speakers. Dictionaries do not apply special labels to terms that occur in the most neutral variety of the language, which is so much the norm that we tend not to notice it. Nor do they label formal terms. Habitual users of English, however, are aware of different levels of formality. For example, in ordinary, neutral English we might say that people are worried or nervous. More formally, they are apprehensive, disquieted, or beset by misgivings. Informally, they may be antsy, in a lather, or spooked. And in slang, they can be uptight, wired, or bummed out. In the second sentence of this note, apropos is formal, appropriate is neutral, and A-OK is informal. At the other end of the linguistic spectrum from the formal apropos is the slang term bitchen, meaning “marvelous” or “wonderful.” In effect, informal English is English that is not quite neutral but not quite slang. Slang is very informal, and its environment is often restricted, in that some of its terms are associated with a profession (military slang), a period of time (jazz-age slang), a group or subculture (teen slang), or an interest or activity (computer slang). Slang is characteristically metaphorical (airhead for “a scatterbrained person”), playful (canoodle for “to pet; fondle amorously”), elliptical (bro for “brother”), vivid (coffin nail for “a cigarette”), and ephemeral (cat’s pajamas, 1920s slang for “something wonderful”). Some slang is vulgar. Slang terms rarely occur in formal, prepared speech or in edited writing. Informal language, on the other hand, has recently seeped into situations that once mandated careful, formal speech. For some, this is a welcome development. But not everyone is pleased; complaints are sometimes heard when people think that a speaker in some relatively formal situation, trying to be folksy, has come across as insufficiently professional, professorial, or even presidential. But although dictionaries categorize levels of linguistic formality on the basis of extensive observation of actual language use, the boundaries between these levels are flexible and porous. English as a widely spoken language is especially fluid and ever changing. Unlike some languages, it is not subject to dicta by a supervisory or regulating body. Throughout the history of English, some words in its lexicon have moved up from one category to another and then another—sometimes quickly, sometimes over centuries. The word snide, ‟nastily derogatory,” was once slang, as were tip, ‟a gratuity paid for service,” and frame, ‟to incriminate with false evidence.” In fact, slang terms that catch on broadly and firmly enough to remain in common use beyond one generation can generally be said to have outgrown their Slang label. Movement in the other direction, from neutral to slang, is far more rare. One classic example is bastard. Its literal sense, ‟a person born of unmarried parents,” first appeared in the late thirteenth century, almost two centuries before such an individual could be referred to as illegitimate. The current slang senses, ‟a despicable person‟ or just ‟a person‟ (The poor bastard broke his leg), did not emerge until the early to mid nineteenth century. Unlike words whose status moves from slang through informal to neutral, all the while retaining their original meanings, standard words that move the other way and become slang tend to do so by adding a new, usually metaphorical, sense. Not all dictionaries agree when categorizing words and phrases on a sociolinguistic scale. These decisions are difficult to make. A word or definition labeled Slang in one dictionary but Informal in another may be unlabeled in a third. And yet, whatever guidance one finds in a reputable dictionary is usually sufficient. Most of us can judge when to vary our language. Consciously or unconsciously, we choose language appropriate to each communicative setting. And much of the time, a dash of informality is just … dandy.