formalistic adj : concerned with or characterized by rigorous or adherence to recognized forms (especially in religion or art); "highly formalized plays like `Waiting for Godot'" [syn: formalized, formalised]

Formalism or formalization is the activity or its product which rigorously follows a set/system of rules previously defined and usually known.

It can refer to a set of beliefs in philosophy, art, literature, or music.

• Formalism (art)
• Formalism (film)
• Formalism (music)
• Formalism (law)
• Formalism (literature)
• Formalism (philosophy)
• Formalism (mathematics), see Philosophy of mathematics.

accordant, anal, bourgeois, compulsive, concordant, conformist, conventional, conventionalized, corresponding, elegant, euphemistic, euphuistic, exquisite, extrinsic, formal, formalist, formulary, goody good-good, goody-goody, harmonious, impersonal, in accord, in keeping, in line, in step, kosher, legalistic, mincing, namby-pamby, nominal, orthodox, outward, overnice, overprecise, overrefined, pedantic, plastic, precieuse, precious, precisian, precisianistic, precisionistic, puristic, simpering, square, straight, stuffy, stylized, superficial, surface, traditionalist, uptight