Formation may refer to:

Linguistics

Back-formation Back-formation is the process or result of creating a neologism, new word via Morphology (linguistics), morphology, typically by removing or substituting actual or supposed affixes from a lexical item, in a way that expands the number of lexemes ...

, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes

Mathematics and science

* Cave formation or speleothem, a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave *

Class formation In mathematics, a class formation is a topological group acting on a module satisfying certain conditions. Class formations were introduced by Emil Artin and John Tate to organize the various Galois groups and modules that appear in class fiel ...

, a topological group acting on a module satisfying certain conditions * Formation (group theory), a class of groups that is closed under some operations * Formation constant, an equilibrium constant for the formation of a complex in solution * Formation enthalpy, standard heat of formation of a compound * Formation (group theory), a class of groups *

Formation (geology) A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics ( lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock exp ...

, a formally named rock stratum or geological unit * Formation of rocks, how rocks are formed *

Formation and evolution of the Solar System There is evidence that the formation of the Solar System began about 4.6 billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud. Most of the collapsing mass collected in the center, forming the Sun, while ...

, history of the Solar System *

Rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock (geology), rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock Geological formation, formation ...

, an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop *

Vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage of plants and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular Taxon, taxa, life forms, structure, Spatial ecology, spatial extent, or any other specific Botany, botanic ...

formation, a concept used to classify vegetation communities

Military

Formation flying Formation flying is the flight of multiple objects in coordination. Formation flying occurs in nature among flying and gliding animals, and is also conducted in human aviation, often in military aviation and air shows. A multitude of studies have ...

, the disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a flight leader *

Formation (military) Military organization (American English , AE) or military organisation (British English , BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a State (polity), state so as to offer such military capability as a military policy, national defense pol ...

, a high-level military organization *

Tactical formation In military operation , military-style operations, a tactical formation (or tactical order) is the arrangement or deployment of movable military or policing forces such as Infantry tactics, infantry, cavalry tactics, cavalry, armoured fighting ...

, the arrangement or deployment of moving military forces * Formation, an element in

order of battle Order of battle of an armed force participating in a military operation or campaign shows the hierarchical organization, command structure, strength, disposition of personnel, and equipment of units and formations of the armed force. Various abbr ...

as a formal assembly of military personnel usually to receive the course of actions (operation order) or get deployed to operations ** Formation may be tactical or ceremonial

Music

Formation Records Leroy Small (born 27 August 1970 in Leicester, England), better known as DJ SS, is a British drum and bass DJ and record producer. Biography SS started out as a hip hop and rare groove DJ in his home-town of Leicester, and was originally known ...

, a record label headed by DJ SS * "Formation" (song), a song by American singer Beyoncé on her 2016 album ''Lemonade'' * The Formation World Tour, concert tour by Beyoncé for her album ''Lemonade''

Religion

* Formations or ''

saṅkhāra (Pali; संखार; Sanskrit: संस्कार or ) is a term figuring prominently in Buddhism. The word means 'formations' or 'that which has been put together' and 'that which puts together'. In the first (passive) sense, ' refers t ...

'', an important Buddhist concept * Formation in the Catholic Church, the personal preparation that the Catholic Church offers to people with a defined mission

Sports

Formation (association football) In association football, the formation of a team refers to the position players take in relation to each other on a Association football pitch, pitch. As association football is a fluid and fast-moving game, a player's position (with the excepti ...

, how team players are positioned on the pitch *

Formation (American football) A formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a Down (American football), down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and many in both categories. Sometimes, formations are referred to ...

, the positions in which players line up before the start of a down *

Formation (bandy) Bandy is a winter sport and ball sport played by two team sport, teams wearing Ice skates#Bandy skates, ice skates on a large ice surface (either indoors or outdoors) while using sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal. The playin ...

, how the players are positioned on the rink *

Formation dance Formation dance is a style of ballroom dancing. It is pattern or shadow team dancing by couples in a formation team. The choreography may be based on a particular dance or a medley of dances. Formation dancing may be done for exhibition or for com ...

, a style of ballroom dancing *

Formation finish A formation finish in a motor race is when multiple vehicles of the same team cross the finish line in formation, usually side-by-side. Typically it happens when a team's car are running in the top positions at the end of the race with a clear ad ...

, a staged motor-race finish in which multiple vehicles of the same team cross the finish line together

Writing

* ''Formation'' (book), a bildungsroman by Brad Mehldau

Other

Contract formation Offer and acceptance are generally recognized as essential requirements for the formation of a contract (together with other requirements such as consideration and legal capacity). Analysis of their operation is a traditional approach in contract ...

in law; an offer, acceptance, consideration, and a mutual intent to be bound *

Formation 8 Formation 8 was an American venture capital firm founded in 2011 by Joe Lonsdale, Jim Kim, and Brian Koo. The company was headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was one of the most successful venture capital firms in the industry ...

, an American venture capital firm in San Francisco, California *

Formation level In transport engineering, subgrade is the native material underneath a constructed road,http://www.highwaysmaintenance.com/drainage.htm The Idiots' Guide to Highways Maintenance ''highwaysmaintenence.com'' Road surface, pavement or Track (rail tr ...

, the native material underneath a constructed road, pavement or railway * Formation of a coalition government, led by a

formateur A formateur (French for "someone who forms, who constitutes") is a politician who is appointed to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur i ...

* Formation water, water that is produced as a byproduct during oil and gas production *

Government formation Government formation is the process in a parliamentary system of selecting a prime minister and cabinet members. If no party controls a majority of seats, it can also involve deciding which parties will be part of a coalition government. It us ...

in a parliamentary system * Formations, imprint of Ohio State University Press