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
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
Often seen around underwater propellers, cavitation is the formation of gas bubbles in a liquid due to pressure changes.
—
Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Examples of NTDs are spina bifida (incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord) or anencephaly (incomplete formation of the brain and skull).
—Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2025
The Bears used the same formation after the timeout.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
That means that the prevailing theory of the formation of the Pluto and Charon system is based on the collisional capture idea, similar to how a massive body is believed to have slammed into Earth to launch out material that our planet captured to birth our moon.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for formation 
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Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Examples of NTDs are spina bifida (incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord) or anencephaly (incomplete formation of the brain and skull).
—Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2025
The Bears used the same formation after the timeout.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
That means that the prevailing theory of the formation of the Pluto and Charon system is based on the collisional capture idea, similar to how a massive body is believed to have slammed into Earth to launch out material that our planet captured to birth our moon.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for formation
Dictionary Entries Near formation
Cite this Entry
“Formation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formation. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
formation
noun
for·ma·tion
fȯr-ˈmā-shən
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
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