- [uncountable] the action of forming something; the process of being formed
- the formation of a new government
- evidence of recent star formation in the galaxy
Extra ExamplesTopics Geographyb2- This dispute led to the formation of a new breakaway group.
- the top civil servants who are responsible for policy formation
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- policy
- lead to
- result in
- prevent
- …
- [countable] a thing that has been formed, especially in a particular place or in a particular way
- Massive rock formations rise abruptly some 1 500 feet above the canyon floor.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cloud
- geological
- rock
- …
- [uncountable, countable] a particular arrangement or pattern
- formation flying
- in formation aircraft flying in formation
- The team usually plays in a 4-4-2 formation.
Extra Examples- The troops advanced in battle formation.
- changing patterns of marriage and family formation
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- close
- tight
- battle
- …
- flying
- in a… formation
- in formation
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin formatio(n-), from formare ‘to form’, based on Latin forma ‘a mould or form’.
Check pronunciation:
formation