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

• arrangement
• configuration
• conformation
• format
• layout
• setout
• setup

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 pair discovered that the message contained movement patterns suggesting cellular formation and life forms. —Tom Howarth follow, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Days can be spent soaking up the sun at the infinity pool (settle down and you’ll be bought your own mini cooler box stocked with iced water and fruit juice) or at the beach, which is sheltered by dramatic rock formations leading to hidden coves. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

As part of the grant, Eastwood ran a series of workshops that acted as building blocks for the formation of the collective that was formed in late 2020. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024

After observing rock formations along the Scottish coast, Hutton came to believe the Earth was much, much older than the 6,000 years that society imagined. —Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing formation

• back-formation
• break formation
• I formation
• punt formation
• reticular formation
• self-formation
• spread formation
• T formation

Kids Definition

formation

noun

for·​ma·​tion fȯr-ˈmā-shən 

1

: a forming of something

2

: something formed

3

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure, shape

4

: a bed of rocks or series of beds recognizable as a unit

5

: an arrangement or grouping of persons, ships, or airplanes

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

2

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure