informeller

Informeller is the comparative form of the German adjective informell, meaning more informal or less formal. It is used to compare two things in terms of informality, such as styles, language, events, or dress codes.

In grammar, the comparative is formed by adding -er to the adjective stem and is declined like other adjectives depending on the article and noun it accompanies. For example, one might say Der Stil ist informeller als der formale Stil (the style is more informal than the formal style). In predicative use, it can appear as Der Stil ist informeller, and in other contexts as Eine informellere Kommunikation or Eine informellere Veranstaltung.

Common contexts for informeller include discussions of language or writing styles, dress codes, and organizational or social practices. It contrasts with formell, the opposite end of the spectrum, as in informelle Sprache versus formelle Sprache or informellere Treffen versus formellere Veranstaltungen. The term is especially frequent in discussions of etiquette, business communication, education, and media where a less rigid, more casual approach is described.

Etymology is usually traced to the Germanization of the English word informal, with the adjective informell formed according to standard German patterns. The word is widely understood in German-speaking regions and appears in both spoken and written registers, though its exact nuance depends on context.

See also: formell, Informalität, informell language use, and discussions of formality in sociology and linguistics.