Meaning & use

pro forma

adjective·Academic

Last updated

Done as a formality or for the sake of appearance, following a standard format rather than being fully complete or final.

See it in a sentence

The company issued a pro forma invoice before the shipment was finalized.

The meeting was largely pro forma, since the decision had already been made.

A note on using this word

'Pro forma' comes from Latin for 'for form'; in business it often describes a preliminary document, like a pro forma invoice or financial statement.

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