formation

Pronunciation: /fɔɹˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
  2. noun the act of fabricating something in a particular shape
  3. noun the act of forming or establishing something

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.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
arrangement
Narrower (hyponyms)
flight, secondary, backfield, rear, military formation, center

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