formation
noun
for·ma·tion
fȯr-ˈmā-shən 
1
: an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development
2
: something that is formed
new word formations
3
: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure
the peculiar formation of the heart
4
: a major kind of plant growth (such as forest, grassland, or tundra) characteristic of a broad ecological region
5
a
: any igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock represented as a unit
b
: any sedimentary bed or consecutive series of beds sufficiently homogeneous or distinctive to be a unit
6
: an arrangement of a body or group of persons or things in some prescribed manner or for a particular purpose
flying in formation
Synonyms
Examples of formation in a Sentence
The book explains the formation of the planets.
The soldiers were marching in formation.
The team ran on the field and lined up in a punt formation.
Recent Examples on the Web
The flood of new business formations during and after the pandemic has favored Delaware, which added another 55,000 new businesses last year, according to the Census Bureau.
—
Scott Cohn, CNBC, 18 July 2024
The formation of new blood vessels during this process is fragile and can lead to vision loss or blindness.14
Risk Factors
Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 18 July 2024
Saharan dust, and the dry air that carries it, can hinder hurricane formation.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
That kind of mutation could kick off the formation of a new cancer.
—Alia Sajani and Angus Chen, STAT, 12 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for formation 
Scott Cohn, CNBC, 18 July 2024
The formation of new blood vessels during this process is fragile and can lead to vision loss or blindness.14
Risk Factors
Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 18 July 2024
Saharan dust, and the dry air that carries it, can hinder hurricane formation.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
That kind of mutation could kick off the formation of a new cancer.
—Alia Sajani and Angus Chen, STAT, 12 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for formation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'formation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near formation
Cite this Entry
“Formation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formation. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
formation
noun
for·ma·tion
fȯr-ˈmā-shən
Medical Definition
formation
noun
for·ma·tion
fȯr-ˈmā-shən
1
: an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development
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