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

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
Getty Anyone who's a die-hard Keeping Up with the Kardashians fan knows that the subject of Kim Kardashian's infamous sex tape was heavily covered during the show's formative years.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "Kris Jenner Had Quite the Reaction When Asked if Kim Kardashian Leaked Her Sex Tape on Purpose", 28 June 2017
Still, a number of readers described how physically grueling experiences can prove to be emotionally and mentally formative.

— hayley glatter, The Atlantic, "Your Summer Job Stories", 27 June 2017
For the adults out there: What was your most formative summer job?

— hayley glatter, The Atlantic, "The Camp Counselor’s Commitment", 20 June 2017
The other [formative] experience was witnessing a space shuttle launch.

— martin edstrom, National Geographic, "How 9 National Geographic Explorers Got Their Start", 16 June 2017
The birthplace of the Horizons National program is the New Canaan Country School Williams attended in her formative years.

— jacqueline rose, CNN, "How Allison Williams is paying it forward", 15 June 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.