formative

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adjective for·ma·tive \ˈfȯr-mə-tiv\

Definition of formative

1a : giving or capable of giving form : constructive a formative influenceb : used in word formation or inflection
2 : capable of alteration by growth and development; also : producing new cells and tissues
3 : of, relating to, or characterized by formative effects or formation formative years

formatively

adverb

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Examples of formative in a Sentence

This experience had a formative influence on his art.
a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students

Recent Examples of formative from the Web

In 2009, David Frum, the former Bush administration speechwriter whose ideological apostasy was in its formative stages, met with conservative intellectuals to discuss the policy response to the great recession.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trumpcare Collapsed Because the Republican Party Cannot Govern," 18 July 2017
These events were formative, to an extent that those who remember the Vietnam War might not realize.

— eric weiskott, Smithsonian, "The Timelessness of Millennial-Bashing," 12 July 2017
For De La Rosa in particular, that first season was an enormously formative experience.

— mary sollosi, PEOPLE.com, "Real Housewives of Orange County 10th Anniversary: Original Cast Looks Back on Season 1," 10 July 2017
Q: Who were your most formative influences musically?

— jeff milo, Detroit Free Press, "Move to L.A. paying off for Michigan Rattlers," 6 July 2017
During her formative days in Bosnia, there were few television shows, but Todorovich and her sister watched MTV and Cartoon Network to sharpen their English skills.

— walter villa, miamiherald, "She was born in a warzone, played basketball at FIU and is fluent in 10 languages," 6 July 2017
For Front Street intern and cat foster Taylor Wells, 18, housing kittens through the program has been a formative influence on her life.

— emily zentner, sacbee.com, "Why July Fourth means more dogs, cats at the animal shelter – and how you can help," 3 July 2017
Sophie Turner learned something from Game of Thrones during her formative years.

— christopher rosen, PEOPLE.com, "Sophie Turner Admits She Found Out About Oral Sex from Reading the 'Very Graphic' Game of Thrones Script," 3 July 2017
The baseball varied widely in the game’s formative years, perhaps because instructions for making them were rather loosely followed.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The baseball has been through just about everything through the years," 2 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'formative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Whatever gives shape to something else may be called formative: for example, the Grand Canyon is a product of the formative power of water, and the automobile was a huge formative influence on the design of America's cities. But it usually applies to some kind of shaping that isn't physical. An ambitious plan, for example, goes through a formative stage of development. The formative years of the U.S. included experimentation with various forms of government. And the most important formative experiences in our own lives tend to take place in the first 20 years or so.