# formulation

/ˌfɔɹmjəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /fˌɔːmjʊlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/formulation
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. creating a plan or theory

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

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

- The formulation of a new government policy takes many months of research.
- 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. a chemical or medicinal mixture

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The scientist is working on a new formulation for the skin cream.
- The pharmaceutical company spent years testing the new liquid formulation to ensure it remained stable at room temperature.
- The diplomat's careful formulation of the treaty allowed both nations to claim victory without conceding their core principles, effectively ending the decade-long border dispute.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.