I. ˈfȯr-mə-tiv adjective
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : giving or capable of giving form : constructive
a formative influence
b. : used in word formation or inflection
2. : capable of alteration by growth and development ; also : producing new cells and tissues
3. : of, relating to, or characterized by formative effects or formation
formative years
• for·ma·tive·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1816
: the element (as a suffix) in a word that serves to give the word appropriate form and is not part of the base