based

[beyst]

adjective

1. having a specified object or material as its base or foundation or as its primary constituent (often used in combination).

   Our house was one of the three stone-based houses of that era, built by my maternal grandfather.

2. established, grounded, or focused on a specified principle or belief, fact, method, etc. (often used in combination).

   It’s a culturally based phys ed curriculum that uses Indian traditions and values to teach healthy lifestyle habits.

   There are a number of promising evidence-based treatment modalities to address depression.

3. having a specified place as its primary location or headquarters; stationed or situated (often used in combination).

   A centrally based Houston media agency is looking for a Digital Account Manager to help with a key communications client.

   The Chicago-based HIV/AIDS organization provides housing, healthcare, and substance abuse programs for its clients.

4. having a specified origin or source (often used in combination).

   They want to replace animal-based foods with plant-based milks and vegetable protein.

5. Slang.,  true to one’s self or secure in one’s beliefs regardless of what others think, especially when those beliefs fall outside of the mainstream.

   Her presentation was so based—did you see the teacher's expression? Priceless!

interjection

Slang.

1. (used to express approval or respect, especially in response to a social media post).

   Based. At least somebody shows some spine on this forum.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of base.

Other Word Forms

• unbased adjective
• well-based adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of based¹

First recorded in 1610–20; base ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

To do this, the Singapore dollar operates under a managed float-currency regime based on a basket of currencies representing the city-state’s major trade partners.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Whilst most cyber-crime gangs are headquartered in Russian or former Soviet countries, there has been a resurgence in teenage hacking gangs thought to be based in English-speaking countries.

Read more on BBC

Under Proposition 103, which regulates the state’s home insurance market, insurers have had to set their premium rates based on historic fire losses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Jarvis said all the evidence provided was based on the law and the Tory government's position on China at the time of the alleged offences.

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Section 2 bars voting practices that discriminate based on race.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal