Answer 1

It's a parameter used in the definition and body of a function/method. The term "formal argument" is used in contrast to actual arguments, which are the values passed to a function when calling it.

[python]
def f(x): # x is a formal argument
return 2*x

print(f(3)) # 3 is an actual argument

a=5
print(f(a)) # a is also an actual argument