Formal
Formal adjective - Being something in name or form only.
Usage example: was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting
Nominal is a synonym for formal in stiff topic. In some cases you can use "Nominal" instead the word "Formal" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like stated. popular alternative
Nominal
Nominal adjective - Being something in name or form only.
Usage example: he was the nominal head of state—everyone knew the country was actually run by one of his advisers
Formal is a synonym for nominal in stated topic. You can use "Formal" instead an adjective "Nominal", if it concerns topics such as supposed, in name only, titular. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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The General Staff Chief is only interested in Baselland's formal (even if it is nominal) participation in the war.
Source: Manga / Gunka No Balzer - The orders (which are uniformly named "The Royal Family Order of (monarch name)") consist almost entirely of a medal; it carries no title, post-nominal letters, formal sash, star, collar or mantle, nor any public announcement of the appointment or place in the order of precedence.
Source: Useful Notes / Knight Fever
Cite this Source
Nominal and Formal. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/formal/nominal
Formal & Nominal. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/formal/nominal>.
Nominal or Formal. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/formal/nominal.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "formal" and "nominal" have occurred on timeline