Synonyms

foundational

American

[foun-dey-shuh-nl] / faʊnˈdeɪ ʃə nl /

Rarely foundationary

adjective

of or relating to the basis or groundwork on which something rests or is built; needing to be understood or established at the beginning.

We believe that fostering a strong local community is a foundational component of our inner-city scholarship program, guiding everything else we do.

Other Word Forms

foundationally adverb

Etymology

Origin of foundational

foundation ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now it’s pressuring suppliers to bring this foundational technology of the modern economy here.

From The Wall Street Journal

Semiconductors are the foundational technology of the digital economy, found in everything from smartphones to cars to missile systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

“A foundational insight was how they see identity, which is as multiple and fluid, not as singular and fixed,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s really hard to separate the science that these people created from the theories that are considered sort of foundational,” she said.

From Salon

“Beyond the potential launch this year, anito-cel could become a foundational treatment for multiple myeloma over time, including earlier lines of therapy,” said Gilead CEO and Chairman Daniel O’Day in a press release.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023