adjective
- giving or able to give form; helping to shape, develop, or mold: the formative influence of a teacher
- of formation or development: a child's formative years
- Linguis. serving to form words, as a prefix or suffix
Origin:
OFr formatif < ML formativus < L formatus, pp. of formare: see form
noun
Linguis. a bound form, as a prefix or suffix