formation
/fə(ɹ).ˈmeɪ.ʃən/
This word describes the transition from a shapeless state to a structured one. It carries a sense of deliberate creation or natural assembly, focusing on the result of an organizational process. In social or political contexts, it suggests the formal establishment of a body (like a committee or government), often implying a period of negotiation and stabilization. When referring to physical arrangements, it evokes images of precision, discipline, and symmetry. It is common in military, athletic, or aviation contexts where the spatial relationship between units is critical. In geological terms, it describes a permanent, massive structure. Unlike 'rock' or 'stone', 'formation' emphasizes the scale and the historical process that created the layer.
Uncountable when describing the general process of creating something, like 'the formation of a habit'. Countable when referring to specific physical structures, such as 'rock formations' in a canyon or 'flight formations' of jets in the sky.
💬Casual Conversation
Hey, about Chloe's birthday dinner, what's the formation looking like?
Uh, dunno. Just got to Gold IV in Valorant.
Meanings
The act of forming or process of being formed.
"The formation of a new government took several weeks after the election."
The particular arrangement of people or things in a particular order or pattern.
"The aircraft flew in a tight V-shaped formation."
Examples
The formation of a new government took several weeks after the election.
The aircraft flew in a tight V-shaped formation.
The limestone formation provides evidence of an ancient seabed.
Collocations & Compounds
rock formation
A distinct geological structure or mass of rock.
The Grand Canyon is famous for its incredible rock formations.
cloud formation
The process or result of clouds gathering and forming.
Meteorologists study cloud formation to predict weather patterns.
company formation
The process of establishing or creating a new company.
The entrepreneur spent months on the company formation before launching the business.
battle formation
The arrangement of troops or ships for military combat.
The general ordered a defensive battle formation to protect the flanks.
data formation
The process or structure by which data is organized or created.
Understanding data formation is crucial for effective data analysis.
Idioms & Sayings
in formation
arranged in a precise and organized pattern
The marching band entered the stadium in formation.
Etymology
The word 'formation' comes from the Latin word 'formatio', meaning 'shaping' or 'creation'. It entered English in the late 14th century, initially referring to the act of forming or shaping something. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the result of this process – the structure or shape itself, as well as the way something is organized or arranged.