formation

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɔːˈmeɪ.ʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /fɔɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /foːˈmæɪ.ʃən/
• Hyphenation: for‧ma‧tion
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

formation (countable and uncountable, plural formations)

1. The act of assembling a group or structure.
   • 2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)

     Some cloud formation was confirmed and rainfall was observed over some islands.

     Audio (US)

     (file)

2. Something possessing structure or form.
3. The process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics.
4. (military) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.
5. (geology) A layer of rock of common origin.
   • 2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition:

     Over a broad region, the color of a formation may change.

6. (military) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".
7. (sports) An arrangement of players designed to facilitate certain plays.
   • 2017 May 13, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian‎:

     N'Golo Kanté embodies both sides of this, a player whose early scratchiness was soothed with glorious results in the new 3-4-3 formation, allowed simply to be his best, most wonderfully mobile, diligent, destructive self.

8. The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.
9. (category theory) 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.

Hyponyms

• mass formation, geologic formation

Derived terms

Related terms

• form

Translations

Further reading

• “formāciǒun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Formation”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes IV (F–G), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 464, column 1.
• “formation”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “formation”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French formacion, borrowed from Latin fōrmātiōnem. Cf. also the archaic formaison.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

formation f (plural formations)

1. formation, forming, development
2. education; training

   la formation juridique ― judicial training

   Je suis gynécologue de formation. ― I'm a trainee gynecologist.

3. (military) formation

Derived terms

• autoformation

Related terms

• forme

Descendants

• → Dutch: formatie

Further reading

• “formation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

Swedish

Etymology

From Latin formatio.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔrmaˈɧuːn/

Noun

formation c

1. formation

Declension

References

• formation in Svensk ordbok (SO)