English Reference
noun

formulation

n.
US /ˌfɔɹmjəˈɫeɪʃən/ UK /fˌɔːmjʊlˈeɪʃən/ for·mu·la·tion UK spelling formulations

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Academic

    the act of creating or preparing a plan, policy, or theory in a clear and organized way.

    the systematic process of developing or articulating a plan, theory, or policy. Often used in academic or professional contexts regarding strategy.

    Simple

    The formulation of a new government policy takes many months of research.

    In context

    The precise formulation of the theory required years of empirical research and several rounds of peer review before it was accepted by the scientific community.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a specific mixture of ingredients, such as a medicine, a cleaning product, or a food item.

    a material or product prepared according to a specific formula or recipe, particularly in pharmacology or industrial chemistry.

    Simple

    The pharmacist explained that this new formulation of the drug has fewer side effects.

    In context

    The laboratory is currently testing a liquid formulation of the vaccine to determine if it remains stable at room temperature.

    Usage

    Can be used as a countable noun when referring to different versions of a product.

Usage alternative formulation

One sample, however, contained a different formulation made from beeswax and tar.

ScienceDaily· 21 Aug 2026

Another study focused on chemicals called amines, which are included in some firework formulations.

ScienceDaily· 4 Jul 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated