# formula

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɔː.mjʊ.lə/ · frequency rank #3,301

## Definitions
1. Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.
2. A symbolic expression of the structure of a compound.
3. A plan or method for dealing with a problem or for achieving a result.
4. A formulation; a prescription; a mixture or solution made in a prescribed manner; the identity and quantities of ingredients of such a mixture.
5. A fixed phrase or set of words intended to be interpreted non-literally, typically used attitudinally or as part of convention; a formulation.
6. A formal statement of doctrine.
7. Ellipsis of infant formula, drink given to babies to substitute for mother's milk.
8. A syntactic expression of a proposition, built up from quantifiers, logical connectives, variables, relation and operation symbols, and, depending on the type of logic, possibly other operators such as modal, temporal, deontic or epistemic ones.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin fōrmula (“a small pattern or mold, form, rule, principle, method, formula”), diminutive of forma (“a form”). See form.

## Easily confused with
- **formulae** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formula-vs-formulae)
- **formulate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formula-vs-formulate)
- **formulaic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formula-vs-formulaic)
- **formal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formal-vs-formula)
- **Formosa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formosa-vs-formula)

## Common misspellings (10)
`fformula`, `fomrula`, `formlua`, `formmula`, `formual`, `formulla`, `forrmula`, `forumla`, `fromula`, `ofrmula`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/formula