formative

CEFRB2

/ˈfɔːmətɪv/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Having an important influence on development or character.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Capable of forming something.

Examples

  • It was in Algiers that he spent the formative years of his life.

  • His formative years were very unhappy.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [-ɾɪv]
  • /ˈfoɹmətɪv/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Capable of producing new tissue.

  2. Pertaining to the formation of words; specifically, of an affix: forming words through inflection.

  3. Of or pertaining to the formation and subsequent growth of something.

More examples

In context

  • My formative years were spent in an inner city.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The early years are a blank period in a child's development.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English formatyve, formatif (“having the ability to form”), from Old French formatif, formative (modern French formatif), from Medieval Latin formātīvus, from Latin fōrmātus + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘doing’ or ‘related to doing’). Fōrmātus is the perfect passive participle of fōrmō (“to form, to shape”), from fōrma (“a form, shape”); further etymology uncertain, possibly related to Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “a form, shape”) (see further at that entry). By surface analysis, form + -ative.