cornerstone

[kawr-ner-stohn]

noun

1. a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection.

2. a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.

3. something that is essential, indispensable, or basic.

   The cornerstone of democratic government is a free press.

4. the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed.

   The cornerstone of his argument was that all people are created equal.

cornerstone

/ ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a stone at the corner of a wall, uniting two intersecting walls; quoin

2. a stone placed at the corner of a building during a ceremony to mark the start of construction

3. a person or thing of prime importance; basis

   the cornerstone of the whole argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of cornerstone¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; corner, stone

Example Sentences

Northvolt was seen as a cornerstone in European efforts to catch up with Chinese battery producers before production delays and its mounting debts led it to declare bankruptcy in March.

Read more on Barron's

A cornerstone of America’s economic strength is vibrant competition among private-sector companies.

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The duty to disobey manifestly illegal orders is a cornerstone of international law, with foundations in Nazi atrocities-related post-World War II trials like Nuremberg.

Read more on Salon

His lead role as a gun-toting rebel in the 1972 crime drama The Harder They Come is a cornerstone of Jamaican cinema, and was attributed as the movie that brought reggae to America.

Read more on BBC

“We’ve always viewed Los Angeles as a cornerstone market for launch of air taxis, both in the U.S. and globally,” said Eric Lentell, chief strategy officer at Archer, in an interview.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• essential 
• foundation 
• keystone 
• linchpin 
• mainstay 
• pillar