Formalistic: meaning, definitions and examples

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formalistic

 

[ fɔːˈmælɪstɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

literary criticism

Relating to or characterized by an emphasis on form over content, style over substance, or technique over content.

Synonyms

artificial, mechanical, rigid, stiff

Examples of usage

  • Her writing was criticized for being too formalistic, lacking emotional depth.
  • The film was praised for its formalistic approach to storytelling, focusing on visual aesthetics.

Translations

Translations of the word "formalistic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 formalístico

🇮🇳 औपचारिकतावादी

🇩🇪 formalistisch

🇮🇩 formalistik

🇺🇦 формалістичний

🇵🇱 formalista

🇯🇵 形式主義的 (けいしきしゅぎてき)

🇫🇷 formaliste

🇪🇸 formalista

🇹🇷 formalistik

🇰🇷 형식주의적인 (hyeongsikjuui jeogin)

🇸🇦 شَكْلَانِيّ

🇨🇿 formalisticý

🇸🇰 formalisticý

🇨🇳 形式主义的 (xíngshì zhǔyì de)

🇸🇮 formalističen

🇮🇸 formalistískur

🇰🇿 формалистік

🇬🇪 ფორმალისტური

🇦🇿 formalistik

🇲🇽 formalista

Word origin

The term 'formalistic' originated in the early 20th century, primarily in the field of literary criticism. It derives from the word 'formalism', which refers to an approach that places importance on the formal aspects of art or literature rather than its content or context. Formalism gained prominence in the early 20th century with the rise of modernist movements in art and literature, emphasizing structure, style, and technique. The word 'formalistic' is still commonly used today in discussions of art, literature, and culture.

See also: formalization, formalness, informal.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,216 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.