formality
/fɔːˈmæləti/ noun (plural formalities)Definition
› [C] 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.
› [C, usually singular] 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.
› [U] 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.
(Definition of formality noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary
© Cambridge University Press)
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