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

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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.

Example Sentences

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

These are mixed together and administered as a single formulation.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026

A century later, surely we can find ways to make this Wilsonian formulation prevail against ghost fleets and their sponsors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Unlike the standard formulation of GRT, Finsler gravity can describe the gravitational behavior of gases more precisely.

From Science Daily • Jan. 11, 2026

Now, with Wotton’s formulation of a tacit reserve, moral certainty was required to give way to a new sort of temporary knowledge, a purely provisional understanding.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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