The process of making something official, structured, or following strict rules and procedures.
From 'formalize' (early 1800s), combining 'formal' (from Latin 'formalis,' meaning 'of form') with the suffix '-ize' (from Greek 'izein,' meaning 'to make'). The meaning evolved from simply having form to actively creating formal structures.
When you formalize something, you're taking an idea or agreement and turning it into something legally or officially recognized—like formalizing a friendship into a business partnership with a contract.
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