1. a person who emphasizes strict adherence to prescribed forms, rules, or methods
2. an artist, writer, or critic who focuses on form and technique rather than content or meaning
Usage: art; literature

Examples

• The teacher was such a formalist that she deducted points for any deviation from the essay format.
• As a formalist, he believed that poetry should follow traditional meter and rhyme schemes.
• The art critic dismissed the painting because he was a formalist who valued technique over emotion.
• Her formalist approach to dance emphasized perfect positioning over personal expression.
• The formalist insisted that all legal documents follow exact procedural requirements.
• Many formalist painters focused on color relationships rather than subject matter.