Unformalizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of removing formalities from a structure or situation
2. the act of making something less rigidly structured or official
3. transforming an environment to be more casual and accessible in nature

Etymology: "Unformalizing" is a plain English formation: the verb "unformalize," built from the prefix "un-" ("reverse, undo") added to "formalize," with the present participle ending "-ing." "Formalize" itself comes from "formal," which entered English in the 1500s from Latin "formalis," meaning "pertaining to form," from "forma" ("shape"). The suffix "-ize," borrowed through Latin from Greek "-izein," turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make or cause to be," so "formalize" means "to make formal." Adding "un-" reverses that process, so "unformalizing" describes the act of removing formality, making something looser, more casual, or less rule-bound. The word is a modern coinage of this kind, built from familiar parts rather than inherited from older English.

Synonyms: informalizing, relaxing standards

Antonyms: formalizing, structuring