The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - formation n.

1) development, appearance, materialization, shape, accumulation, generation, creation, crystallization, forming, genesis, production: The formation of bubbles indicates that the acid is working. 2) establishment, institution, creation, founding, set-up, organizing, organization, development, composition: We met to discuss the formation of a new company. 3 array, display, pattern, arrangement, structure, grouping, organization, configuration, disposition: The vast military formation covered the entire valley.