format

[ fawr-mat ]

/ ˈfɔr mæt /

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See synonyms for: format / formats / formatting on Thesaurus.com

noun

the shape and size of a book as determined by the number of times the original sheet has been folded to form the leaves.Compare duodecimo, folio (def. 2), octavo, quarto.

the general physical appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper, such as the typeface, binding, quality of paper, margins, etc.

the organization, plan, style, or type of something: The format of the show allowed for topical and controversial gags.

Computers. the arrangement of data for computer input or output, such as the number and size of fields in a record or the spacing and punctuation of information in a report.

verb (used with object), for·mat·ted, for·mat·ting.

to plan or provide a format for: to format the annual telethon.

Computers.

to set the format of (input or output): Some word-processing programs format output in a variety of ways.
to prepare (a disk) for writing and reading.

verb (used without object), for·mat·ted, for·mat·ting.

to devise a format.

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Origin of format

1830–40; <French <Latin (liber) fōrmātus (a book) formed (in a certain way)

OTHER WORDS FROM format

for·mat·ter, nounpre·for·mat, verb (used with object), pre·for·mat·ted, pre·for·mat·ting.re·for·mat, verb, re·for·mat·ted, re·for·mat·ting.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use format in a sentence

It was January 2011, and a female patient wanted her palm reformatted to bring her better luck.
Your Future Is in the Palm of Your (Surgeon’s) Hand|Jake Adelstein, Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I tried it with Microsoft Word and reformatted every single line, so I think I might have given up on it.
Chris Colfer on ‘Struck by Lightning,’ Secret Boyfriends, and Girl Fans|Ramin Setoodeh|January 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The List of Maps and Plates was reformatted slightly to eliminate the original ditto marks ahead of each page number.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm
Also reformatted Manchester Guardian attribution to include em-dash for consistency with other quotation attributions.
A Little Fleet|Jack B. Yeats

Simple division equations with numerators over denominators were reformatted as numerators/denominators.
Pedagogical Anthropology|Maria Montessori
Due to confusing page numbering, page numbers were excluded and Table of Contents reformatted.
The Assembly of God|C. (Charles) H. (Henry) Mackintosh
Pp. 44-47: The tables have been reformatted so that each month appears in a separate table.
The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt|James W. Barrett

British Dictionary definitions for format

format

/ (ˈfɔːmæt) /

noun

the general appearance of a publication, including type style, paper, binding, etc

an approximate indication of the size of a publication as determined by the number of times the original sheet of paper is folded to make a leafSee also duodecimo, quarto

style, plan, or arrangement, as of a television programme

computing

the defined arrangement of data encoded in a file or for example on magnetic disk or CD-ROM, essential for the correct recording and recovery of data on different devices
the arrangement of text on printed output or a display screen, or a coded description of such an arrangement

verb -mats, -matting or -matted (tr)

to arrange (a book, page, etc) into a specified format

Word Origin for format

C19: via French from German, from Latin liber formātus volume formed

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

Scientific definitions for format

format

[ fôr′măt′ ]

Noun

The arrangement of data for storage or display.

Verb

To divide a disk into marked sectors so that it may store data.

To determine the arrangement of data for storage or display.

format

Origin of format

OTHER WORDS FROM format

Words related to format

How to use format in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for format

Word Origin for format

Scientific definitions for format