formalism

CEFRB2

/ˈfɔːməlɪz(ə)m/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Strict attention to rules or outward forms rather than meaning.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An approach to interpretation and/or evaluation focused on the (usually linguistic) structure of a literary work rather than on the contexts of its origin or reception.

Examples

  • The artist rejected the rigid formalism of the academy.

  • Formalism dominated the literary movement.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2

Also pronounced

  • /ˈfɔɹml̩ˌɪzm̩/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. One of several alternative computational paradigms for a given theory.

  2. Strict adherence to a given form of conduct, practice etc.

  3. The tendency to elevate formal above expressive value in music, as in serialism.

More examples

In context

  • The artist rejected traditional formalism.

  • 1992, tuart M. Shieber, Constraint-based Grammar Formalisms, The MIT Press, page 51, It is this abstraction that justifies considering these methods as characterizing constraint-based formalisms in general, rather than an individual formalism.

  • Dirac approaches quantum mechanics by means of a so-called symbolic method, the bracket formalism. Although this formalism has a mathematical flavour, in fact, it is based upon bold claims which lack mathematical foundation.

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From formal + -ism.