format

1 of 2

noun

for·​mat ˈfȯr-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
1
: the shape, size, and general makeup (as of something printed)
2
: general plan of organization, arrangement, or choice of material (as for a television show)
3
: a method of organizing data (as for storage)
various file formats

format

2 of 2

verb

formatted; formatting

transitive verb

1
: to arrange (something, such as material to be printed or stored data) in a particular format
2
: to prepare (something, such as a computer disk) for storing data in a particular format
formatter noun

Examples of format in a Sentence

Noun The journals are available in electronic format. The file is saved in MP3 format. Verb The book is formatted in several different styles. The data was improperly formatted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With his large format black-and-white film camera, Notarberardino photographed the cast of characters who passed through the hotel’s historic doors, taking over 1,500 portraits of subjects ranging from famous drag queens and nightlife legends to artists, activists and filmmakers. Caitie Kelly Gisela Williams Camille Sojit Pejcha Lindsay Talbot Roxanne Fequiere Alexander Lobrano, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 And for the rest of his career, one sadly truncated by his drug use, Evans would pursue the trio format with subtle lyrical passion. James Kaplan, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 The show, hosted by Republic reporter Rafael Carranza, explores news and issues through interviews with other reporters and newsmakers in a fast-paced, easy-to-digest format. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 As in the current format, teams will qualify based on their domestic performance in the previous season. George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 But strangely there was no regular SUV, considering this format has been a focus for most brands when electrifying. James Morris, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Key Takeaways Understand the CPA Exam Structure: Familiarize yourself with the format, sections (AUD, FAR, REG, and discipline sections), and types of questions (MCQs and TBS) to tailor your study plan effectively. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 But large format sheet cakes are increasingly more popular. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2024 Social-out marketing is a strategy that centers around social media content and delivery formats and utilizes other channels to expand the storytelling. Jia Rizvi, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Education assignment at Marquette Course: Child and Adolescent Development and Learning Assignment: Find five sources for a research paper on an education topic of your choice, cite the sources in APA formatting and summarize each source in four to six sentences. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Give me a list of techniques for improving readability through choosing appropriate fonts, sizes, and text formatting for my work presentation. Rachel Wells, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Even with those funds rolling in, though, the organization’s antiquated official website still seems to be formatted for internet users from more than a decade ago. Variety, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024 An education editor will ensure that the chapters are written and formatted appropriately for secondary learners, and a graphic artist will be brought on board to contribute. The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 The adversary then must convert the database into a fingerprint dictionary that’s formatted to work with the specific sensor used by the targeted phone. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 22 May 2023 If the Enterprise-D is a 4:3 starship formatted to fit your TV screen, the Enterprise-E is a 2.35:1 ship that was made for film. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 23 Apr. 2023 When formatting CompactFlash or USB drives for use with the Book 8088, remember to keep things small. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 5 July 2023 The company had to navigate arcane Securities and Exchange Commission rules about formatting and get the placement of the banks involved just right on the prospectus cover. Corrie Driebusch, WSJ, 5 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'format.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French or German; French, from German, from Latin formatus, past participle of formare to form, from forma

First Known Use

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of format was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near format

Cite this Entry

“Format.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/format. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

format

1 of 2 noun
for·​mat ˈfȯ(ə)r-ˌmat How to pronounce format (audio)
1
: the general organization or arrangement of something
2
: a method of organizing data (as for storage)
a file format

format

2 of 2 verb
formatted; formatting
1
: to produce in a particular format
2
: to prepare for storing computer data
format the disk

More from Merriam-Webster on format

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