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malformation

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Etymology and origin of the French word malformation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1858 Littré and Robin, medical dictionary More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French male,formation

Forms

malformation f (plural malformations)[1]

Etymology

It is a compound from French male + formation, with the old feminine form of the adjective mal “bad”.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in pathology in 1858, in the medical dictionary of Littré and Robin, as a defect in the formation of a part of the body.[2]

Semantic evolution

The Grand Robert, the GLLF and the Petit Robert date the word from Littré's dictionary (1867), which defines it as a general term for every anomaly that can affect the living body.[5][3][6][4] In modern usage it means a congenital defect, while déformation generally refers to an acquired one.[6][3] In literary use it was extended to any distortion, physical or mental.[2]

Timeline

  • 1858 – First recorded as a pathological term in Littré and Robin's medical dictionary.[2]
  • 1867 – Littré's dictionary records it, the first date given by the Robert dictionaries and the GLLF.[5][3][6]
  • 1946 – Mounier uses it figuratively of the formation of character.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (pathology) A congenital defect in the formation of a tissue, organ or part of the body: une malformation cardiaque, malformation congénitale de la hanche.[6][2][3]
  2. (literary, by extension) An alteration or distortion.[2]

Usage notes

The Petit Robert distinguishes a malformation, present from birth, from a déformation, which is generally acquired.[6]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Malformation.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/malformation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·