- 1formalize something to make an arrangement, a plan, or a relationship official They decided to formalize their relationship by getting married.
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- 2formalize something to give something a fixed structure or form by introducing rules The college has a highly formalized system of assessment.
formalize
verbNAmE//ˈfɔrməˌlaɪz//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they formalize he / she / it formalizes
past simple formalized
-ing form formalizing
NAmE//ˌfɔrmələˈzeɪʃn//
noun [uncountable]See formalize in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: formalize