formate

American  

[fawr-meyt] / ˈfɔr meɪt /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a salt or ester of formic acid.

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formate British  

/ ˈfɔːmeɪt /

noun

1. any salt or ester of formic acid containing the ion HCOO ^– or the group HCOO–

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formate Scientific  

/ fôr′māt′ /

1. A salt or ester of formic acid, containing the group HCOO.

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Etymology

Origin of formate

First recorded in 1800–10; form(ic) + -ate ²

Example Sentences

During fermentation, the microbes release acidic by products including acetate and formate.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

Some gut bacteria can produce lactate and formate themselves, highlighting the importance of 'cross-feeding'.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

This metabolism creates toxic by-products called formaldehyde, formate and formic acid.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

They found that adding dimethylammonium formate, or DMAFo, to the perovskite solution before coating could prevent the materials from oxidizing.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024

Referring to the esters C9H18O2 previously mentioned, it is seen that the highest boiling-points belong to methyl octoate and octyl formate, the least symmetrical, while the minimum belongs to amyl butyrate, the most symmetrical.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various