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
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
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During the 1970s, people-to-people exchanges sought to bridge the gap between two nations that had lacked formal diplomatic relations since the formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.
—
Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made By History, TIME, 10 Mar. 2025
During a summertime visit, guests can marvel at huge crowds of northern gannets packed onto the surface of the formation, while other potential seabird sightings span from the common murre to the black-legged kittiwake to the little auk.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Asteroids are inactive bodies orbiting the sun, usually composed of rocky, dusty and metallic materials left behind from the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Asteroid nearly hits Earth in Siberia, with a 2nd massive asteroid passing this week
The meteorite strike may have even contributed to the formation of cratons, which are large, stable landmasses that became the foundation of continents, Kirkland said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formation
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Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made By History, TIME, 10 Mar. 2025
During a summertime visit, guests can marvel at huge crowds of northern gannets packed onto the surface of the formation, while other potential seabird sightings span from the common murre to the black-legged kittiwake to the little auk.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Asteroids are inactive bodies orbiting the sun, usually composed of rocky, dusty and metallic materials left behind from the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Asteroid nearly hits Earth in Siberia, with a 2nd massive asteroid passing this week
The meteorite strike may have even contributed to the formation of cratons, which are large, stable landmasses that became the foundation of continents, Kirkland said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formation
Cite this Entry
“Formation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formation. Accessed 23 Mar. 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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