formula

noun

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for·mu·la | \ ˈfȯr-myə-lə

plural formulas or formulae\ ˈfȯr-myə-ˌlē

, -ˌlī \

Definition of formula

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a set form of words for use in a ceremony or ritual

b : a conventionalized statement intended to express some fundamental truth or principle especially as a basis for negotiation or action

2a(1) : recipe The product is made using a secret formula that the company refuses to reveal.

(2) : prescription

b : a milk mixture or substitute for feeding an infant

3a : a general fact, rule, or principle expressed in usually mathematical symbols

b : a symbolic expression of the chemical composition or constitution of a substance

c : a group of symbols (such as letters and numbers) associated to express facts or data (such as the number and kinds of teeth in the jaw) concisely

d : a combination of signs in a logical calculus

4 : a customary or set form or method allowing little room for originality All her books were written according to a familiar formula.

formula

adjective

Definition of formula (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being an open-wheel open-cockpit rear-engine racing car conforming to prescribed specifications as to size, weight, and engine displacement

Examples of formula in a Sentence

Noun His investment strategy is based on a simple formula. This has proven to be a winning formula. The product is made using a secret formula that the company refuses to reveal. The formula for water is H₂O. infants drinking formula instead of their mother's milk

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Sure, there are variations on the cheeseburger formula. — Mike Sutter, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio restaurant takeout all-stars: Battalion, Chris Madrid’s and Pharm Table keep the fires burning during coronavirus crisis," 7 May 2020 Each jurisdiction will get a share of the money based on a formula that includes population, estimated homeless counts and other factors. — oregonlive, "Oregon releases $12 million in housing funds: Here’s what it’s for and how you can benefit," 4 May 2020 The game, a tweak on the zombie formula, was originally due May 29, which itself was a push from its original Feb. 21 release. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, "Coronavirus won’t stop ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ after all. Did a leak get the game a June release?," 4 May 2020 The game, a tweak on the zombie formula, was originally due May 29, which itself was a push from its original Feb. 21 release. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, "Coronavirus won’t stop ‘The Last of Us Part 2' after all. Did a leak get the game a June release?," 27 Apr. 2020 That provision provides money to universities and colleges on a formula, based in part on what share of its students are eligible for federal financial aid through the Pell Grant program. — John Fritze, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Trump incorrectly claims Harvard 'took' coronavirus money intended for small businesses," 22 Apr. 2020 Money is being distributed based on a formula that rewards airports for having large numbers of commercial passengers and large cash reserves compared to their annual debt payments. — James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, "Coronavirus aid bill contains a windfall for Alaska airports," 16 Apr. 2020 Each school will have grants made available to them based, in part, on a formula that takes into consideration how many of its full-time students are eligible for Pell Grants. — NBC News, "Video shows hospital staff cheering for doctor who recovered from COVID-19," 9 Apr. 2020 When do Instacart's delivery times open? Instacart officials tell Good Housekeeping that delivery times open on their app automatically on a rolling basis, based on a formula that considers the store's volume and shopper availability. — Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, "How to Use Instacart to Get Your Groceries Delivered Straight to Your Door During the Coronavirus Outbreak," 8 Apr. 2020

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

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Last Updated

18 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Formula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formula. Accessed 23 May. 2020.

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More Definitions for formula

formula

noun

English Language Learners Definition of formula

: a plan or method for doing, making, or achieving something

: a list of the ingredients used for making something (such as a medicine or a drink)

mathematics : a general fact or rule expressed in letters and symbols

See the full definition for formula in the English Language Learners Dictionary

formula

noun

for·mu·la | \ ˈfȯr-myə-lə

Kids Definition of formula

1 : a direction giving amounts of the substances for the preparation of something (as a medicine)

2 : an established form or method a formula for success

3 : a milk mixture or substitute for feeding a baby

4 : a general fact or rule expressed in symbols We learned a formula for finding the size of an angle.

5 : an expression in symbols giving the makeup of a substance The chemical formula for water is H₂O.

formula

noun

for·mu·la | \ ˈfȯr-myə-lə

plural formulas or formulae\ -ˌlē

, -ˌlī

Medical Definition of formula

1a : a recipe or prescription giving method and proportions of ingredients for the preparation of some material (as a medicine)

b : a milk mixture or substitute (as one containing soybean protein) for feeding an infant

2 : a symbolic expression showing the composition or constitution of a chemical substance and consisting of symbols for the elements present and subscripts to indicate the relative or total number of atoms present in a molecule the formula for ethyl alcohol is C₂H₅OH — see empirical formula, molecular formula, structural formula

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