Search Result for "formalism": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (3)

1. the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented;

2. (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications;

3. the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Formalism \Form"al*ism\ (f[^o]rm"al*[i^]z'm), n. The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion. [1913 Webster] Official formalism. --Sir H. Rawlinson. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

formalism n 1: the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented [ant: imitation] 2: (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications 3: the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms