formulaic

adjective

for·​mu·​la·​ic ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik 

1

: produced according to a formula or set of formulas : adhering to set forms or conventions

a formulaic response

a movie with a formulaic plot

… much of the will's language was formulaic, in accordance with Venetian customs.

—Laurence Bergreen

The film … uses simple, formulaic storytelling to spin the tale of Bella, a rescued pit bull who makes her way home after a two-year walkabout.

—Katie Walsh

2

: of or relating to a mathematical formula

Those projections prompted the department to evaluate the state tax withholding tables. In September, the department found the formulaic error that had apparently been there, undetected, for at least 15 years.

—Kathryn Palmer

formulaically

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

… his songs still stick formulaically to the surface of pop entertainments.

—David Sargent

The price of admission to local social functions is often expressed formulaically as 'Gentlemen $2, ladies a plate', meaning a plate of scones or the like.

—Robert Burchfield

Synonyms of formulaic

• imitative
• unoriginal
• imitation

Examples of formulaic in a Sentence

she thought the plots of most action movies were pretty formulaic

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, formulaic crime dramas can be comforting. —Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026

Typically in times of geopolitical turmoil, analysts look to the past for precedents and templates, but history is idiosyncratic, not formulaic. —Paul Swartz, Harvard Business Review, 20 Mar. 2026

More crucially, everything to do with the onboard alien is far too cute and formulaic. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026

That melodic emphasis is a powerful remedy for Evaporator’s limited and occasionally even formulaic sound. —Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for formulaic

• algebraic
• aramaic
• ptolemaic
• syngeneic
• allogeneic
• photovoltaic
• altaic
• archaic
• deltaic
• hebraic
• mosaic
• oleic