formwork

This term is a technical specialization used primarily in civil engineering and construction. It refers specifically to the temporary structural support system that defines the shape of a concrete element. While it is often used interchangeably with shuttering in British English, formwork is the more comprehensive term encompassing both the molds and the supporting framework.

Grammatically, this noun is uncountable. It describes a collective system or a material state rather than individual units. Consequently, it does not have a plural form and cannot be used with the indefinite article "a" unless modified by a countable noun such as "type of formwork" or "piece of formwork."