Formation may refer to:

Linguistics

Back-formation In etymology, back-formation is the process or result of creating a new word via inflection, typically by removing or substituting actual or supposed affixes from a lexical item, in a way that expands the number of lexemes associated with the ...

, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes

Mathematics and science

* Cave formation or speleothem, a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave *

Class formation In mathematics, a class formation is a topological group acting on a module satisfying certain conditions. Class formations were introduced by Emil Artin and John Tate to organize the various Galois groups and modules that appear in class field t ...

, a topological group acting on a module satisfying certain conditions * Formation (group theory), a class of groups that is closed under some operations * Formation constant, an equilibrium constant for the formation of a complex in solution * Formation enthalpy, standard heat of formation of a compound * Formation (group theory), a class of groups *

Formation (geology) A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics ( lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock exp ...

, a formally named rock stratum or geological unit *

Formation of rocks :''This article discusses how rocks are formed. There are also articles on physical rock formations, rock layerings ( strata), and the formal naming of geologic formations.'' Terrestrial rocks are formed by three main mechanisms: * Sedimentary ro ...

, how rocks are formed *

Formation and evolution of the Solar System The formation of the Solar System began about 4.6 billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud. Most of the collapsing mass collected in the center, forming the Sun, while the rest flattened in ...

, history of the Solar System *

Rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock formation'' can also refer to specific sedime ...

, an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop *

Vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage of plant species and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic charac ...

formation, a concept used to classify vegetation communities

Military

* Formation flying, the disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a flight leader *

Formation (military) Military organization or military organisation is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nati ...

, a high-level military organization * Tactical formation, the arrangement or deployment of moving military forces * Formation, an element in

order of battle In modern use, the order of battle of an armed force participating in a military operation or campaign shows the hierarchical organization, command structure, strength, disposition of personnel, and equipment of units and formations of the armed ...

as a formal assembly of military personnel usually to receive the course of actions (operation order) or get deployed to operations ** Formation may be tactical or ceremonial

Music

Formation Records Leroy Small (born 27 August 1970 in Leicester, England), better known as DJ SS, is a British drum and bass DJ and record producer. Biography SS started out as a hip hop and rare groove DJ in his home-town of Leicester, and was originally kn ...

, a record label headed by DJ SS * "Formation" (song), a song by American singer Beyoncé on her 2016 album ''Lemonade'' * The Formation World Tour, concert tour by Beyoncé for her album ''Lemonade''

Religion

* Formations or Saṅkhāra, an important Buddhist concept *

Formation (Catholic) Formation is the personal preparation that the Catholic Church offers to people with a defined mission, such as the priesthood or membership of a religious order such as the Society of Jesus. Such formation involves a program of spiritual and ...

, the personal preparation that the Catholic Church offers to people with a defined mission

Sports

Formation (association football) In association football, the formation of a team refers to the position players take in relation to each other on a pitch. As association football is a fluid and fast-moving game, a player's position (with the exception of the goalkeeper) in a ...

, how team players are positioned on the pitch *

Formation (American football) A formation in football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories. Sometimes, formations are referred to as packages. ...

, the positions in which players line up before the start of a down *

Formation (bandy) Bandy is a winter sport and ball sport played by two teams wearing ice skates on a large ice surface (either indoors or outdoors) while using sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal. The international governing body for bandy is ...

, how the players are positioned on the rink * Formation dance, a style of ballroom dancing *

Formation finish A formation finish in a motor race is when multiple vehicles of the same team cross the finish line in formation, usually side-by-side. Typically it happens when a team's car are running in the top positions at the end of the race with a clear adv ...

, a staged motor-race finish in which multiple vehicles of the same team cross the finish line together

Other

Contract formation A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tr ...

in law; an offer, acceptance, consideration, and a mutual intent to be bound *

Formation 8 Formation 8 was an American venture capital firm founded in 2011 by Joe Lonsdale, Jim Kim and Brian Koo. The company was headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was one of the most successful venture capital firms in the industry bef ...

, an American venture capital firm in San Francisco, California *

Formation level In transport engineering, subgrade is the native material underneath a constructed road,http://www.highwaysmaintenance.com/drainage.htm The Idiots' Guide to Highways Maintenance ''highwaysmaintenence.com'' pavement or railway track (US: railroa ...

, the native material underneath a constructed road, pavement or railway * Formation of a coalition government, led by a

formateur A formateur (French for "someone who forms, who constitutes") is a politician who is appointed to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur ...

* Formation (rail), British English for subgrade * Formation water, water that is produced as a byproduct during oil and gas production * Government formation in a parliamentary system * Formations, imprint of

Ohio State University Press The Ohio State University Press is the university press of Ohio State University. It was founded in 1957. The OSU Press has published approximately 1700 books since its inception. The current director is Tony Sanfilippo, who had previously wor ...