Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Characterized by formalism.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective formalist

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

formalist +‎ -ic

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Examples

  • No state and no single politician can suppress or evade the moral and political obligations that these Articles impose by taking refuge in formalistic arguments couched in terms of international law.

    The Nobel Peace Prize 1975 - Presentation Speech 1976

  • These two responses give us versions of fictionalism that, for lack of a better pair of terms, can be called formalistic fictionalism and intention-based fictionalism.

    Fictionalism in the Philosophy of Mathematics Balaguer, Mark 2008

  • As mentioned earlier, theoretical discussions of political representation have focused mainly on the formal procedures of authorization and accountability within nation states, that is, on what Pitkin called formalistic representation.

    Political Representation Dovi, Suzanne 2006

  • The result may appear "formalistic" in a given case to partisans of the measure at issue, because such measures are typically the product of the era's perceived necessity.

    Give me liberty or give me health care Charles Lane 2011

  • The emphasis on cheesiness in Coeur de Lion and on the 'bad bad' in Minnis seem to me to be wanting to mobilise our ideas of the 'poorly written', the 'formalistic', the 'faux-edgy' as these things themselves are sort of the contraband property of poetry and literature in this time and place.

    David's comment Dodie Bellamy 2008

  • So, Natasha's flaw is in attributing to a kind of formalistic mistake, a technical flaw in the construction of the show, what should rightly be read into ours and Weiner's very schizophrenia about the 60s, equality, consumerism, the American Dream - the whole kit and caboodle.

    The Corner on National Review Online 2010

  • John Hannah, who served as Vice President Dick Cheney's national security adviser said, "As good as the relationship was in the Bush administration, the interagency strategic dialogue was useful, but tended to be formalistic, which is different than high-level strategic consultations.

    unknown title 2009

  • John Hannah, who served as Vice President Dick Cheney's national security adviser said, "As good as the relationship was in the Bush administration, the interagency strategic dialogue was useful, but tended to be formalistic, which is different than high-level strategic consultations.

    unknown title 2009

  • John Hannah, who served as Vice President Dick Cheney's national security adviser said, "As good as the relationship was in the Bush administration, the interagency strategic dialogue was useful, but tended to be formalistic, which is different than high-level strategic consultations.

    unknown title 2009

  • 'formalistic' in a given case to partisans of the measure at issue, because such measures are typically the product of the era's perceived necessity.

    AlterNet.org Main RSS Feed 2010

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