Dictionary.com Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

formulation

British  
/ ˌfɔːmjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of formulating

  2. any mixture or substance prepared according to a particular formula

  3. a medicinal preparation administered in a specific form, such as a tablet, linctus, ointment, or injection

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

A formulation is a mixture of ingredients prepared in a certain way and used for a specific purpose. For example, if you are sick, you may need a formulation of a combination of antibiotics. If you devise or conceptualize an idea, you can also refer to this act with the noun formulation. If you are a scientist, you may be widely recognized for your skillful formulation of a plan to eradicate a disease. If you are a parent, you may congratulate yourself for the formulation of a plan to get your kids to actually go to bed on time. Of course, the flaw may be that when you conceptualized the plan, you assumed that the kids would cooperate and not want a drink of water every five minutes.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing formulation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"There is, in my opinion, a non-negligible possibility that the statement could incorporate a two-sided formulation that would acknowledge that rate hikes could be appropriate if inflation remains above-target," Daco told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

“VDPHL01 is the first oral minoxidil formulation developed specifically for pattern hair loss.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Under this formulation, when a previous decision does not conform with history and tradition, stare decisis—the court’s deference to judicial precedent—is especially weak.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

Vivtex, founded by MIT scientists, has developed a gastrointestinal screening and formulation platform to identify oral therapeutics, and the deal with Novo Nordisk expands its reach to metabolic diseases, the companies said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

In the Adams formulation, aristocracies were to society as the passions were to the individual personality, permanent fixtures susceptible to disciplined containment and artful channeling, but never altogether removable.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis