Formal - relating to form.

For example, formal logic reasons about an argument based only on the form and not on the meaning.

If
Socrates is a man
and
all men are mortal,
then Socrates is mortal
The conclusion follows from propositional logic. We can see the soundness of this argument by substituting in symbols to make the form clear.
If
S is a P
and
all P are M,
then S is M

Other Examples

Compare with