formative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

World War II was the formative experience for more than one generation of British men, women and children, as Mr. Allport illuminatingly shows us.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

For many young Lebanese caught in the crossfire, their formative years have been jeopardised by repeated conflicts and crises.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

It meant a generation of youngsters in the area missed out on the chance to use the indoor facility like Carrick did in his formative years.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

For those who create and read fanfic, rewriting stories that aren’t originally yours isn’t wanton IP infringement; they’re an extension of the formative, meaningful texts that, read over and over, feel like they become yours.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

Thus vindicating those who bore influence in her formative years.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote