figuration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “figuration” mean?
The act of giving shape or form to something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of giving shape or form to something; a particular arrangement or pattern.
In music, a decorative pattern of notes; in art/literature, symbolic representation; the process of imagining or representing in a specific form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slightly higher frequency in British academic musicology texts.
Connotations
Neutral-formal in both. In UK contexts, may have stronger classical music associations.
Frequency
Low frequency overall; most common in specialized discourses (music theory, art criticism, philosophy).
Grammar
How to Use “figuration” in a Sentence
the figuration of [abstract concept] (e.g., time, desire)figuration in [medium/art form] (e.g., in Baroque music, in Renaissance art)[Adjective] figuration (e.g., intricate, symbolic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “figuration” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The composer figured the bass line with intricate passing notes.
- The data was figured into a complex chart.
American English
- The artist figured the concept through abstract shapes.
- We need to figure out a new strategy.
adverb
British English
- The melody moved figurationally above the steady bass.
- The idea was expressed figurationally rather than literally.
American English
- The notes are treated figurationally, not just harmonically.
- She writes figurationally, layering symbol upon symbol.
adjective
British English
- The figurational process was key to the theory.
- He studied figurational sociology.
American English
- The figurational aspects of the design were praised.
- Her work is highly figurational, not purely abstract.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Very rare. Might appear metaphorically in 'figuration of data' or 'market figuration'.
Academic
Common in humanities: literary theory (narrative figuration), art history, musicology, philosophy (e.g., Cassirer's 'symbolic figuration').
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound highly formal or pretentious.
Technical
Standard in music theory (e.g., 'fortspinnung' type figuration), and in some branches of sociology/figurational sociology (Elias).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “figuration”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “figuration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “figuration”
- Using it as a synonym for 'figure' or 'statue'. (Incorrect: 'The garden had a stone figuration.').
- Confusing with 'configuration', which is about component arrangement, not artistic process.
- Overusing in general contexts where 'shape', 'pattern', or 'form' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Figure' is a noun for a shape, number, or person. 'Figuration' is the *process* or *art* of forming patterns or representations, often in an artistic/musical context.
It is not recommended. It is a formal, technical term. Using 'pattern', 'design', 'shape', or 'form' is almost always more natural in everyday speech.
Music theory is the most common field, specifically referring to patterns of notes like arpeggios, scales, or trills that decorate a musical line.
A school of sociology associated with Norbert Elias, focusing on studying societies as dynamic networks of interdependent people (figurations), like the figuration of a court or a football team.
The act of giving shape or form to something.
Figuration is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Figuration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪɡəˈreɪʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪɡjəˈreɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None common. The word itself is technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'FIGURE' being formed into an 'ACTION' (figur-ation) -> the action of forming a figure or pattern.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE SHAPES (giving figuration to a thought). MUSIC IS VISUAL PATTERN (melodic figuration).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'figuration' MOST appropriately used?