format

1 of 2

noun

for·​mat ˈfȯr-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
1
: the shape, size, and general makeup (as of something printed)
2
: general plan of organization, arrangement, or choice of material (as for a television show)
3
: a method of organizing data (as for storage)
various file formats

format

2 of 2

verb

formatted; formatting

transitive verb

1
: to arrange (something, such as material to be printed or stored data) in a particular format
2
: to prepare (something, such as a computer disk) for storing data in a particular format
formatter noun

Examples of format in a Sentence

Noun The journals are available in electronic format. The file is saved in MP3 format. Verb The book is formatted in several different styles. The data was improperly formatted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The podcast is available on Max (in audio-only format) and all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 In terms of physical format sales, labels and artists received 243 million pounds ($310 million) in 2023, up almost 13% on 2022, when physical trade revenues dropped by a tenth. Richard Smirke, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 Starting with the 2026 season, there was no competitive format, no governance structure, no revenue model and no media agreement for a postseason event. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 While the signal wasn’t in the format the Voyager team is used to when the flight data system is functioning as expected, an engineer with NASA’s Deep Space Network was able to decode it. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 But striking the right tone for Apples Never Fall, the series, while rearranging the book format was a high-wire act only Moriarity herself (who is also an excutive producer) and showrunner/EP Melanie Marnich could have pulled off. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024 With City Council meetings returning to in-person formats, Wiegelman said remote public comments are no longer necessary. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 Consider the category’s presenters: Five previous winners were onstage to introduce the nominees, a format that the Oscars hasn’t used since 2009. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 The memoir will be published in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats, with Pacino narrating the audiobook himself. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
The Internship Experience Interns in tax accounting often start with foundational tasks like formatting PDFs, entering numbers into spreadsheets, and importing them into tax software. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Education assignment at Marquette Course: Child and Adolescent Development and Learning Assignment: Find five sources for a research paper on an education topic of your choice, cite the sources in APA formatting and summarize each source in four to six sentences. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Give me a list of techniques for improving readability through choosing appropriate fonts, sizes, and text formatting for my work presentation. Rachel Wells, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Even with those funds rolling in, though, the organization’s antiquated official website still seems to be formatted for internet users from more than a decade ago. Variety, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024 An education editor will ensure that the chapters are written and formatted appropriately for secondary learners, and a graphic artist will be brought on board to contribute. The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 The adversary then must convert the database into a fingerprint dictionary that’s formatted to work with the specific sensor used by the targeted phone. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 22 May 2023 If the Enterprise-D is a 4:3 starship formatted to fit your TV screen, the Enterprise-E is a 2.35:1 ship that was made for film. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 23 Apr. 2023 When formatting CompactFlash or USB drives for use with the Book 8088, remember to keep things small. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 5 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'format.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French or German; French, from German, from Latin formatus, past participle of formare to form, from forma

First Known Use

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of format was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near format

Cite this Entry

“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/format. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

format

1 of 2 noun
for·​mat ˈfȯ(ə)r-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
1
: the general organization or arrangement of something
2
: a method of organizing data (as for storage)
a file format

format

2 of 2 verb
formatted; formatting
1
: to produce in a particular format
2
: to prepare for storing computer data
format the disk

More from Merriam-Webster on format

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