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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.
Examples of formative in a Sentence
Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Community service is a good way to help our children build healthier social connections and gain important life experiences during their formative years.
—Muhammad Aquil, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
Both are clever nods to her formative years in West Africa.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
What began as learning shapes and colors turned into a deep love for and fascination with the language, something Sadah, who graduated last week, said was formative in his high school years.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for formative
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formative. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
formative
adjective
