(fôr′məl) adjective
1. Made, framed, or done in accordance with regular and established forms and methods, or with proper dignity and impressiveness; orderly.
2. Of or pertaining to established forms or methods.
3. Of or pertaining to the external appearance or form as opposed to real substance: formal religion; perfunctory.
4. Having outward show, but lacking reality; outward; mechanical.
5. Having regard to or done in accordance with a scrupulous observance of social forms, customs, and etiquette; punctilious; ceremonious; conventional.
6. Of or pertaining to the form as opposed to the content of logical reasoning.
7. Philos. Of or pertaining to the characteristic composition of anything; essential instead of material.

(fôr·mal′) noun
Methylal.