formalize

UK: /ˈfɔː^rməlaɪz/ US: /ˈfɔrməˌlaɪz/ ,(fôr′mə līz′)

Inflections of 'formalize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

formalizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

formalizing

v pres p (US & UK)

formalized

v past (US & UK)

formalized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

for•mal•ize /ˈfɔrməˌlaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to make formal:
   formalized their spoken agreement with a legal contract.

See -form-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

for•mal•ize  (fôr′mə līz′), v.t., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to make formal, esp. for the sake of official or authorized acceptance:
   to formalize an understanding by drawing up a legal contract.
2. to give a definite form or shape to.
3. Linguistics to state or restate (the rules or implied rules of a grammar or the like) in symbolic form.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] for′mal•ise′. 

• formal¹ + -ize 1590–1600

for′mal•i•za′tion, n. 
for′mal•iz′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

formalize, formalise / ˈfɔːməˌlaɪz/ verb

1. to be or make formal
2. (transitive) to make official or valid
3. (transitive) to give a definite shape or form to

ˌformaliˈzation, ˌformaliˈsation noun