FORMALITY

The conditions which must be observed in making contracts, and the words which the law gives to be used in order to render them valid.

Formality also signifies the conditions which the law requires to make regular proceedings. E.g. Holding, and recording minutes of, meetings, elections, etc., as called for in a corporation's articles and by-laws is part of what is called corporate formalities.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.