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military formation

military formation

1 4.8
A group of soldiers who move in a set pattern to fight
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪlɪˌtɛri fɔrˈmeɪʃən/
translation icon : formación militar
  • The soldiers marched in perfect military formation as they approached the parade ground.

Examples

  • It also derives from a tradition of using women in unconventional warfare and irregular military formations.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Well-trained military formations, and there were some of the best the world has ever seen available, push into the fog and develop the situation.

    Blog text (21)
  • They stand in military formation: eyes forward, every face burning.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The 72 members of the Central Committee, which normally meets every nine months, are elected by representatives of the various civilian institutions and military formations during the Front's General Congress.

    Academic text (1991)
  • What distinguished it and a comparable movement for the Czechoslovak Army in France from the American and Allied efforts was the absence of existing governments to which these military formations were responsible.

    Academic text (1991)
  • A fourth and most recent development is the increased utilization of women in regular military formations, primarily in noncombat roles, but with combat specialties slowly being opened to them.

    Academic text (1993)
  • In a Soviet confederation, the existing Soviet army, a huge multinational establishment based on compulsory military service, might gradually be transformed into a professional and smaller military formation, presumably subject to the confederal government.

    Academic text (1991)
  • During the drill, the troops practiced maneuvering in military formation to enhance their coordination.

  • The commanding officer inspected the battalion's military formation before the official ceremony began.

Synonyms

formation
vsmilitary formation
122 3.6

An arrangement of people or things in a pattern for a purpose

is limited to arranging soldiers or units for a specific operational purpose
close order
vsmilitary formation
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A tight group of soldiers standing or marching together for drill

is general arranging rather than forming tight ranks for drills
line of march
vsmilitary formation
  • Jargon
7.4

An ordered group of people walking in a row

is for arranging units for different tasks not only marching in a column
open order
vsmilitary formation
  • Specialized
8.0

Soldiers standing with wide spaces between ranks so an officer can walk between them for inspection

is about arranging units generally rather than leaving space for inspection
extended order
vsmilitary formation
  • Specialized
8.9

Soldiers spread far apart to avoid enemy fire and move across rough ground

is about arranging units for general purposes, not specifically for wide spacing

Surface Forms

Morphology

military + formation

The meaning 'an arrangement of soldiers or units' is directly and compositionally derived from 'military' (relating to soldiers) + 'formation' (an arranged pattern). This straightforward noun-noun combination follows common compounding patterns and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Military formation shows soldiers standing in neat rows or shapes so they can move, protect each other, and act as one. The phrase parts military means 'soldiers' and formation means 'a set pattern', so that's why it means 'an arrangement of soldiers in a set pattern to do a job'.