formalism

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: for=mal=ism

CIDE DICTIONARY

formalism, n. 

 The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion.  [1913 Webster]
"Official formalism."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

formalism, n.
1 a excessive adherence to prescribed forms. b the use of forms without regard to inner significance.
2 derog. an artist's concentration on form at the expense of content.
3 the treatment of mathematics as a manipulation of meaningless symbols.
4 Theatr. a symbolic and stylized manner of production.
5 Physics & Math. the mathematical description of a physical situation etc.

Derivative

formalist n. formalistic adj.

ROGET THESAURUS

formalism

Impiety

N impiety, sin, irreverence, profaneness, profanity, profanation, blasphemy, desecration, sacrilege, scoffing, hypocrisy, pietism, cant, pious fraud, lip devotion, lip service, lip reverence, misdevotion, formalism, austerity, sanctimony, sanctimoniousness, pharisaism, precisianism, sabbatism, sabbatarianism, odium theologicum, sacerdotalism, bigotry blue laws, hardening, backsliding, declension, perversion, reprobation, sinner, scoffer, blasphemer, sacrilegist, sabbath breaker, worldling, hypocrite, Tartufe, Mawworm, bigot, saint, Pharisee, sabbatarian, formalist, methodist, puritan, pietist, precisian, religionist, devotee, ranter, fanatic, juramentado, the wicked, the evil, the unjust, the reprobate, sons of men, sons of Belial, the wicked one, children of darkness, impious, irreligious, desecrating, profane, irreverent, sacrilegious, blasphemous, un-hallowed, un-sanctified, un-regenerate, hardened, perverted, reprobate, hypocritical, canting, pietistical, sanctimonious, unctuous, pharisaical, overrighteous, righteous over much, bigoted, fanatical, priest-ridden, under the mask of religion, under the cloak of religion, under the pretense of religion, under the form of religion, under the guise of religion, giovane santo diavolo vecchio.