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F4O1R1M3A1T1I1O1N1

formation

for·ma·tion

UK/fɔːˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/Canada, US/fɔɹˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/Australia, New Zealand/foːˈmæɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

What it means

  1. countableuncountableThe act of assembling a group or structure.

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

    2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
  2. countableuncountableSomething possessing structure or form.
  3. countableuncountableThe process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics.

In a sentence

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

2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Where it comes from

  1. Latinfōrmātiō
  2. Old Frenchformacion
  3. Middle Englishformacioun
  4. Englishformation

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

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