FORMALISTIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does formalistic mean? 

• FORMALISTIC (adjective)
  The adjective FORMALISTIC has 1 sense:

1. concerned with or characterized by rigorous adherence to recognized forms (especially in religion or art)

  Familiarity information: FORMALISTIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORMALISTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Concerned with or characterized by rigorous adherence to recognized forms (especially in religion or art)

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

formalised; formalistic; formalized

Context example:

highly formalized plays like 'Waiting for Godot'

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

faith; religion; religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny)

Pertainym:

formalism (the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms)

Derivation:

formalism (the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms)

formalism (the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented)

formalism ((philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications)