The word allude is a formal word or not The word allude is a formal word or not, why because one dictionary says its formal and another says its not. http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/allude al‧lude allude to somebody/something phrasal verb formal to mention something or someone indirectly: Rick didn't want to discuss his past, though he alluded darkly to 'some bad things that happened.' but http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/american/allude?showCookiePolicy=true alˈluded, alˈluding to refer in a casual or indirect way (to)