formulaic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌfɔrmjəˈleɪɪk/ UK /ˌfɔːmjʊˈleɪɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
following a set formula; predictable and unoriginal

The sequel felt formulaic, recycling every beat of the original.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · following a set formula;... predictable conventional stereotyped hackneyed derivative unoriginal stock routine

Opposites

original innovative creative spontaneous fresh

Word family

Derived forms formulaically

Related forms formula formulate formulation

Etymology

From formula (Latin formula 'small form, rule, pattern', diminutive of forma 'form') plus the adjectival suffix -ic. It describes something that follows a set, predictable pattern.

formula Latin forma Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# formulaic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌfɔrmjəˈleɪɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌfɔːmjʊˈleɪɪk/

## Meanings
1. following a set formula; predictable and unoriginal

## Examples
- The sequel felt formulaic, recycling every beat of the original.

## Synonyms
- predictable
- conventional
- stereotyped
- hackneyed
- derivative
- unoriginal
- stock
- routine

## Antonyms
- original
- innovative
- creative
- spontaneous
- fresh

## Derived Forms
- formulaically

## Related Forms
- formula
- formulate
- formulation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: formula
- Root: forma

## Etymology
From formula (Latin formula 'small form, rule, pattern', diminutive of forma 'form') plus the adjectival suffix -ic. It describes something that follows a set, predictable pattern.

## AI Etymology
Formulaic comes from formula (Latin formula 'small form, rule, pattern', diminutive of forma 'form') plus the adjectival suffix -ic. It describes something that follows a set, predictable pattern. The development is chiefly a borrowing or learned continuation, carrying an older form and meaning into English rather than building the word from a purely native base. In present use, it is used as an adjective meaning "following a set formula; predictable and unoriginal", so the historical material remains connected with the current sense rather than standing as bare ancestry. The wider English family includes derivatives such as formulaically and related forms such as formula, formulate, and formulation, showing how the same historical material continues to organize neighboring vocabulary. The named historical forms include Latin formula and Latin forma, keeping the history tied to concrete forms rather than a loose resemblance.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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