formative
Translation
formative, developmental
Examples
My teenage years were my formative years.
My teenage years were my formative years.
This is a formative stage in the project.
This is a formative stage in the project.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) formative ((noun)) relating to the development of a person's character or a thing's development My teenage years were my formative years.
Similar Words
Synonyms: developmental, influential, shaping; Antonyms: destructive, regressive
Etymology
From Latin 'formare' meaning 'to form, shape'. The suffix '-ive' indicates a quality or tendency.
Memory Tips
Think of 'formative' years as the time when your character is 'formed'.