informatio (Latin)

Where does "informatio" come from?

The Latin noun 'informatio' originates from the verb 'īnfōrmō,' combined with the suffix '-tiō' which typically forms nouns. Initially, it conveyed meanings like a sketch, idea, or conception, essentially the act of shaping or giving form to something. This root laid the groundwork for the modern sense of "information" as organized or structured knowledge.

Full etymology tree

• informatio (Latin), 'sketch, idea, conception'
  • affix īnfōrmō (Latin), 'to form, mould, fashion, give shape to'
  • affix -tiō (Latin), '-tion, -ation, -ing; suffixed to verbs to form action nouns denoting a process, action, or result of an action.'

Direct ancestors

• informo (Latin)
• -tio (Latin)

Updated February 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris