Unformalize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

  1. To reverse the process of making something formal or official; to remove formal status or structure from; to restore a less formal state
  2. To undo the formalization of a system, document, or procedure; to strip away formal characteristics or criteria; to revert to an informal condition
  3. The act of converting something from a formal or structured state back to an informal or unregulated state; the removal of formal recognition or rules from an entity or action

Etymology: The verb formed by adding the prefix "un-" to "formalize" creates a word that suggests the reversal of making something formal. "Formalize" itself entered English in the late 18th century, derived from "formal" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ize," which comes from Latin "-izare," adapted through French. To formalize originally meant to give something a definite form or structure, often in a legal, official, or ceremonious sense. Adding "un-" as a prefix to verbs typically negates or reverses the action, so "unformalize" would mean to remove formality or structure from something previously formalized. While this particular formation is rare and not widely attested in major dictionaries, it follows a productive pattern in English for creating verbs that undo an action. The base "formal" traces back to Latin "formalis," meaning "relating to form," from "forma," signifying shape or appearance. Over time, "formal" came to denote adherence to established customs, rules, or ceremonies. Therefore, to unformalize something would imply stripping away those conventions or official arrangements, returning it to a less structured or informal state. This construction reflects English’s flexibility in verb formation, especially in modern contexts where reversing processes or states often requires new coinages. Although "unformalize" is not common, it fits neatly within the language’s morphological system, showing how English can generate new terms as needed by speakers or writers.

Synonyms: informalize, casualize

Antonyms: formalize