bedrock

American  

[bed-rok] / ˈbɛdˌrɒk /

noun

1. Geology. unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil or rock fragments.

2. bottom layer; lowest stratum.

3. any firm foundation or basis.

   Technical courses will be founded on a bedrock of sound, general education so as to produce a well-rounded engineer.

4. the fundamental principles, as of a teaching, belief, or science.

   Let's strip away the cant and get down to bedrock.

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adjective

1. basic; fundamental.

bedrock British  

/ ˈbɛdˌrɒk /

noun

1. the solid unweathered rock that lies beneath the loose surface deposits of soil, alluvium, etc

2. basic principles or facts (esp in the phrase get down to bedrock )

3. the lowest point, level, or layer

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bedrock Scientific  

/ bĕd′rŏk′ /

1. The solid rock that lies beneath the soil and other loose material on the Earth's surface.

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Etymology

Origin of bedrock

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; bed + rock ¹

Explanation

Bedrock is the hard layer of rock beneath looser rocks and soil. In some places, the bedrock is exposed, while in others it lies deep underground. A geologist who's interested in studying the bedrock in different areas might have to dig through the various layers of soil to reach that bedrock. You can also use the word in a figurative way, to mean "the heart of the matter," or "the basic, fundamental principles." For example, you might say that fairness and freedom is the bedrock of a good government. The word combines bed — here meaning "plot of land" — and rock.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bedrock

For decades, a strong U.S. dollar has been the bedrock of the global financial system, powering trade activities and serving as the world’s primary default reserve currency.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Some Antarctic ice rests on bedrock that lies below sea level.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

Damaged peatland is also "much more prone to erosion" leading to "peat cliffs" where "all the peat around it has been slowly eroded away by wind and rain right down to bedrock".

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

Lawyers and advocates have lamented that this bedrock principle was even up for debate, let alone affirmed by anything less than unanimity among the justices.

From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026

Then I send my thoughts even deeper to the bedrock, where pockets of gas bubble and brew from earth’s intestinal distress as it tries to digest its long and often sad history of life.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman