formation

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of assembling a group or structure.
2. (countable, uncountable) Something possessing structure or form.
3. (countable, uncountable) The process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics.
4. (countable, uncountable) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.
5. (countable, uncountable) A layer of rock of common origin.
6. (countable, uncountable) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".
7. (countable, uncountable) An arrangement of players designed to facilitate certain plays.
8. (countable, uncountable) The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.
9. (countable, uncountable) A structure made of two categories, two functors from the first to the second category, and a transformation from one of the functors to the other.

Synonyms

creation

structure

forming

establishment

composition

organization

constitution

arrangement

build

shaping

production

configuration

conformation

construction

🚧

organisation

making

shape

generation

education

development

form

figuration

becoming

formation level

building

coming-to-be

founding

setting up

unit

molding

layout

rise

geological formation

extension

collection

expansion

clipping

emergence

camp

layer

institution

construct

build-up

bed

🛏️

horizon

grouping

group

instruction

genesis

generating

Translations

formation

formación

formazione

Bildung

formatie

Formation

formação

formació

oluşum

διαμόρφωση

σχηματισμός

vorming

Gestaltung

établissement

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fɔːˈmeɪʃən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: formacioun

In summary

From Middle English formacioun, formation, borrowed from Old French formacion, from Latin fōrmātiō, from fōrmō (“form”, verb); see form as verb. Morphologically form + -ation.

Sentences

The column formation was extensively used by Chinese infantry during the Korean War .

The orienting response is believed to play an integral role in preference formation .