Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun formation

7 senses of formation

Sense 1
formation -- (an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit; "a defensive formation"; "a formation of planes")
       => arrangement -- (an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging; "a flower arrangement")

Sense 2
formation, shaping -- (the act of fabricating something in a particular shape)
       => fabrication, manufacture, manufacturing -- (the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufacture of explosives"; "manufacturing is vital to Great Britain")

Sense 3
constitution, establishment, formation, organization, organisation -- (the act of forming or establishing something; "the constitution of a PTA group last year"; "it was the establishment of his reputation"; "he still remembers the organization of the club")
       => beginning, start, commencement -- (the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations")

Sense 4
geological formation, formation -- ((geology) the geological features of the earth)
       => object, physical object -- (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow; "it was full of rackets, balls and other objects")

Sense 5
formation -- (a particular spatial arrangement)
       => placement, arrangement -- (the spatial property of the way in which something is placed; "the arrangement of the furniture"; "the placement of the chairs")

Sense 6
formation -- (natural process that causes something to form; "the formation of gas in the intestine"; "the formation of crystals"; "the formation of pseudopods")
       => natural process, natural action, action, activity -- (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity")

Sense 7
formation -- (creation by mental activity; "the formation of sentences"; "the formation of memories")
       => creating by mental acts -- (the act of creating something by thinking)