formation

noun

for·​ma·​tion fȯr-ˈmā-shən 

1

: an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development

2

: something that is formed

new word formations

3

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure

the peculiar formation of the heart

4

: a major kind of plant growth (such as forest, grassland, or tundra) characteristic of a broad ecological region

5

a

: any igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock represented as a unit

b

: any sedimentary bed or consecutive series of beds sufficiently homogeneous or distinctive to be a unit

6

: an arrangement of a body or group of persons or things in some prescribed manner or for a particular purpose

flying in formation

Synonyms

• arrangement
• configuration
• conformation
• format
• layout
• setout
• setup

Examples of formation in a Sentence

The book explains the formation of the planets.

The soldiers were marching in formation.

The team ran on the field and lined up in a punt formation.

Recent Examples on the Web

The forecast net cash requirement for 2024 is a record since the formation of the eurozone, the strategists say. —WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023

While vortexes are often referred to as specific locations — rocks or other formations associated with a certain type of potent energy — some spiritual authorities are now preaching a more expansive understanding. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023

Digital keys could become more popular and more ubiquitous after automakers and the consumer tech industry came together to announce the formation of a new working group to develop industrywide standards for ultra wideband (UWB) connectivity. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 16 Nov. 2023

The value and relevance of security can be enhanced by the formation of a culture that encourages positivity and creative thinking. —Steve Durbin, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

The Eagles came out in a swinging-gate formation and ran a jet sweep, with Pablo Jackson running left to right and just getting in the end zone for the win. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023

What to know about The Young Avengers Marvel has been slyly setting up the formation of the Young Avengers, but only people who know where to look can see where the clues lie. —TIME, 10 Nov. 2023

Decades ago, Xiaohui Fan, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, helped discover a string of quasars — bright supermassive black holes — whose extreme youth and size defied standard theories of black hole formation. —WIRED, 5 Nov. 2023

Asteroid formation Asteroids come in a variety of sizes. —Valerie Payré, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing formation

• back-formation
• break formation
• reticular formation
• self-formation
• spread formation
• punt formation
• T formation
• I formation

• back-formation
• break formation
• reticular formation
• self-formation
• spread formation
• punt formation
• T formation
• I formation

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Kids Definition

formation

noun

for·​ma·​tion fȯr-ˈmā-shən 

1

: a forming of something

2

: something formed

3

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure, shape

4

: a bed of rocks or series of beds recognizable as a unit

5

: an arrangement or grouping of persons, ships, or airplanes

Medical Definition

formation

noun

for·​ma·​tion fȯr-ˈmā-shən 

1

: an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development

2

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure