formula

1 of 2

noun

for·​mu·​la ˈfȯr-myə-lə 

plural formulas or formulae ˈfȯr-myə-ˌlē 

-ˌlī

1

a

: 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

2

a(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

3

a

: 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

2 of 2

adjective

: 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

The two-in-one skincare product doubles as your moisturizer and sunscreen with its ceramide-rich formula and SPF 30 protection. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024

Its nourishing formula strengthens lashes, preventing breakage and giving them a fuller appearance. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

In marketing, the consumer lifetime value of a customer is a formula that assumes customer acquisition costs are high while customer retention costs are much lower. —Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024

Perpetrators beat victims and take food, even baby formula, leaving people battered and starving in the forest. —Julie Turkewitz Federico Rios, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

This creates a potent, robust full-spectrum formula that is pungent but not bitter. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

From lightweight formulas to powerful hydration, find your ideal match for a radiant complexion. —Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024

Today, the brand keeps Tucker's spirit alive by using shea butter handcrafted by women in Africa in all of their formulas. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024

Sublime’s formula was recently used in a nonstructural part of the ground floor in a building in Boston. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024

Adjective

There are these stereotypical tropes about the women who choose to have home births…the woo-woo, crystal-slanging, anti-formula, granola mom cult. —Time, 23 Jan. 2023

Last year, the agency came under fire from members of Congress and others for not heading off a formula shortage that left many parents scrambling to feed their infants. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2023

Then came a formula shortage that had parents scrambling to feed their kids, just as a bill that would have extended breastfeeding protections at work died in the Senate. —Kelsey Butler, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Dec. 2022

Then came a formula shortage that had parents scrambling to feed their kids, just as a bill that would have extended breastfeeding protections at work . —Kelsey Butler, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2022

The report comes in the wake of heavy criticism of the agency’s handling of a formula shortage earlier this year. —Laura Reiley, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Dec. 2022

Mexico, Chile, Ireland and the Netherlands have a formula supply on hand that may be immediately available, Pelosi told ABC News Sunday. —Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, 16 May 2022

The bill would allow WIC participants to use vouchers on any formula brand, instead of being limited to a brand that could be unavailable. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 18 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Latin, diminutive of forma form

First Known Use

Noun

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1951, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing formula

• empirical formula
• formula weight
• magic formula
• molecular formula
• quadratic formula
• Stirling's formula
• structural formula

Kids Definition

formula

noun

for·​mu·​la

ˈfȯr-myə-lə

plural formulas or formulae

-ˌlē,

-ˌlī

1

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

2

a

: recipe sense 3, prescription

my formula for happiness

b

: a milk mixture or substitute for feeding a baby

3

a

: a general fact or rule expressed in symbols and especially mathematical symbols

b

: an expression in symbols of the composition of a substance

the formula for water is H₂O

4

: a required or set form or method

formulaic

ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-ik

adjective

formulaically

-ˈlā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

formula

noun

for·​mu·​la ˈfȯr-myə-lə 

plural formulas or formulae -ˌlē  -ˌlī 

1

a

: 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