Formative Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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formative
[ˈfɔːmətɪv ]
Definitions
education
Providing important information or forming something
Synonyms
educational, informative, instructive.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| formative |
Used when talking about experiences or periods in one's life that have a strong influence on shaping their character and development.
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| informative |
Used to describe something that provides a lot of useful information, typically in an easy-to-understand manner.
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| instructive |
Refers to something that is intended to teach or provide knowledge, often with a focus on practical or moral lessons. It has a slightly formal or didactic tone.
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| educational |
Applied to experiences, activities, or content designed specifically to impart knowledge or skills.
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Examples of usage
- Formative assessment is crucial for student learning
- The formative years of a child are crucial for development
linguistics
A formative is a linguistic form that is affixed to a base or root
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| formative |
This word is used to describe something that shapes or influences development.
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| affix |
Typically used in linguistics to refer to a set of letters added to a word to change its meaning. It can be either a prefix or a suffix.
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| prefix |
In linguistics, a prefix is a set of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
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| suffix |
In linguistics, a suffix is a set of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
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Examples of usage
- In English, the plural formative for nouns is often -s or -es
- The past tense formative in Spanish verbs often ends in -ado or -ido
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Origin of 'formative'
The word 'formative' comes from the Latin word 'formare', which means 'to form'. It entered the English language in the late 15th century. Originally, it was used in a general sense of 'having the power to form or shape', and later took on more specific meanings in different fields such as education and linguistics.
See also: amorphic, conform, deform, deformed, form, formal, formality, formally, formation, formatter, formed, former, formerly, formic, forming, formless, forms, malform, malformation, multiformity, preformative, reform, unformed.