Cryptic crossword clue
Formal language changing if I lose face 11

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word OFFICIALESE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
O
F
F
I
C
I
A
L
E
S
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Formal language" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case formal language = officialese.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does OFFICIALESE mean?

OFFICIALESE noun
  1. The typical language of officials or official documents; legalistic and pompous language.

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