Usage labels

informal
used when you are speaking, or communicating with people you know but not normally in serious writing
brainy, freebie, goalie

formal
used in serious writing or for communicating with people about things like law or business
examination, moreover, purchase

very informal
used when you are talking to people you know well, and not usually in writing. Some of these words may offend people, and this is explained in the entry.
prat, barf, crap

spoken
a way of writing a word which is used in conversation
yeah, hey, eh

humorous
used to be funny or to make a joke
couch potato, snail mail

literary
used in books and poems, not in ordinary conversation
beloved, slumber, weep

old-fashioned
not used in modern English – you might find these words in books, used by older people, or used to be funny
gramophone, spectacles, farewell

trademark
the name of a product that is made by one company, but which has become used as a general word
Coke

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