Formality vs. Polite — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Formality and Polite
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Definitions
Formality
A formality is an established procedure or set of specific behaviors and utterances, conceptually similar to a ritual although typically secular and less involved. A formality may be as simple as a handshake upon making new acquaintances in Western culture to the carefully defined procedure of bows, handshakes, formal greetings, and business card exchanges that may mark two businessmen being introduced in Japan.
Polite
Marked by or showing consideration for others and observance of accepted social usage.
Formality
The quality or condition of being formal.
Polite
Refined; elegant
Polite society.
Formality
Rigorous or ceremonious adherence to established forms, rules, or customs.
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Polite
Well-mannered, civilized.
It's not polite to use a mobile phone in a restaurant.
Formality
An established form, rule, or custom, especially one followed merely for the sake of procedure or decorum.
Polite
(obsolete) Smooth, polished, burnished.
Formality
(uncountable) The state of being formal.
Polite
To polish; to refine; to render polite.
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Formality
Something said or done as a matter of form.
Polite
Smooth; polished.
Rays of light falling on a polite surface.
Formality
A customary ritual without new or unique meaning.
The examination for priesthood is no mere formality, so we have to study well.
Polite
Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.
He marries, bows at court, and grows polite.
Formality
(countable) A specific requirement for obtaining a legal status, conducting a transaction, etc.
Polite
Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature.
Formality
The condition or quality of being formal, strictly ceremonious, precise, etc.
Polite
To polish; to refine; to render polite.
Formality
Form without substance.
Such [books] as are mere pieces of formality, so that if you look on them, you look though them.
Polite
Showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
Formality
Compliance with formal or conventional rules; ceremony; conventionality.
Nor was his attendance on divine offices a matter of formality and custom, but of conscience.
Polite
Marked by refinement in taste and manners;
Cultivated speech
Cultured Bostonians
Cultured tastes
A genteel old lady
Polite society
Formality
An established order; conventional rule of procedure; usual method; habitual mode.
He was installed with all the usual formalities.
Polite
Not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others;
Even if he didn't like them he should have been civil
Formality
The dress prescribed for any body of men, academical, municipal, or sacerdotal.
The doctors attending her in their formalities as far as Shotover.
Formality
That which is formal; the formal part.
It unties the inward knot of marriage, . . . while it aims to keep fast the outward formality.
Formality
The quality which makes a thing what it is; essence.
The material part of the evil came from our father upon us, but the formality of it, the sting and the curse, is only by ourselves.
The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God.
Formality
The manner in which a thing is conceived or constituted by an act of human thinking; the result of such an act; as, animality and rationality are formalities.
Formality
A requirement of etiquette or custom
Formality
A manner that strictly observes all forms and ceremonies
Formality
Compliance with formal rules
