Betekenis van formality In het Nederlands

• 0 something that has to be done but has no real importance:

  • You'll have to sign the visitors' book, but it's just a formality.

  • We'll have to observe the formalities (= do what is expected).

• 1 the quality of being suitable for serious or official occasions:

  • She found the formality of the occasion rather daunting.

  • A note of formality in his voice alerted her to the fact that others were listening.

• 2 something done because it follows the usual or accepted way of doing things, although it may not be important:

  • [ C ] There were only a few legal formalities to be finished, and he would be free to leave the country.

  • [ C ] It was just a mere formality.

• 3 something official that must be done before something else can happen or be done:

  • It is essential to observe all the formalities when setting up a business.

  • complete/go through the formalities (of sth) This should be a means of injecting share capital into a company without going through the formalities of a share issue.

  • Approval of the documents is a legal formality.

• 4 something that must be done but that is unlikely to affect an agreement that has already been made:

  • little more than/only/merely a formality There are still some details to be sorted out, but I believe it's only a formality.

  • Background checks often are a mere formality in the hiring process.

• 5 formal writing, behaviour, etc. that is suitable in important or official situations:

  • The bank says its business overdrafts are arranged with a minimum of formality and fuss.