formic

American

[fawr-mik] / ˈfɔr mɪk /

adjective

of or relating to ants.
Chemistry. of or derived from formic acid.

formic British

/ ˈfɔːmɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or derived from ants
of, containing, or derived from formic acid

"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

Etymology

Origin of formic

1785–95; irregular < Latin formīca ant. Cf. French formique

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.

Together, these components enable the direct conversion of carbon dioxide gas into formic acid.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2026

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

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

Dr Ziyun Wang's researchers in the School of Chemical Sciences, in collaboration with researchers at Chinese institutions, have demonstrated a method for turning CO2 into formic acid, reported in the journal Nature.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2024

Using commercially available components, they designed an electrolysis cell in which inorganic catalysts convert carbon dioxide gas into formic acid.

From Science Daily • Oct. 31, 2023

Croton chloral gives the same reactions, but chloroform, chloric ether, and formic acid do not.

From Scientific American, Vol. XLIII.?No. 1. [New Series.], July 3, 1880 A Weekly Journal Of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, And Manufactures by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023