foundation

American  

[foun-dey-shuhn] / faʊnˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

foundations plural

1. the basis or groundwork of anything.

   the moral foundation of both society and religion.

2. the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.

   Synonyms:

   footing

   Antonyms:

   superstructure

3. the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.

   Synonyms:

   footing

   Antonyms:

   superstructure

4. the act of founding, setting up, establishing, etc..

   a policy in effect since the foundation.

   Synonyms:

   settlement, establishment

5. the state of being founded.

   Synonyms:

   settlement, establishment

6. an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc..

   the Ford Foundation.

7. an endowment for such an institution.

8. a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup.

9. foundation garment.

10. Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit.

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foundation British  

/ faʊnˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. that on which something is founded; basis

2. (often plural) a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building, wall, etc

3. the base on which something stands

4. the act of founding or establishing or the state of being founded or established

5. 1. an endowment or legacy for the perpetual support of an institution such as a school or hospital

   2. entitled to benefit from the funds of a foundation

6. an institution supported by an endowment, often one that provides funds for charities, research, etc

7. the charter incorporating or establishing a society or institution and the statutes or rules governing its affairs

8. a cosmetic in cream or cake form used as a base for make-up

9. See foundation garment

10. cards a card on which a sequence may be built

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Synonym Usage

See base ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prefoundation
  noun
• foundational
  adjective
• foundationary
  adjective
• foundationally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• foundations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of foundation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English foundacioun, from Latin fundātiōn- (stem of fundātiō ), equivalent to fundāt(us) (past participle of fundāre; see found ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A foundation is the base for something. You often hear about the structural foundations of buildings, but a good idea can also be the foundation of a successful business. In the simplest sense, foundations support something else. Friendship is the foundation of a good marriage, and many svelte figures rely on girdles (known to underwear specialists as a foundation garment). But foundations are also charitable organizations. And in cosmetics, foundation is gooey make-up that's supposed to match your skin tone.

Example Sentences

It's whether the team that shocked the world in Qatar can prove that campaign wasn't the peak, but the foundation.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026

That cloud of whipped cottage cheese is the secret foundation of what may be the lemoniest pasta salad in the world.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2026

According to Törmä, combining quantum geometry with machine learning provides a powerful foundation for that search.

From Science Daily • Jul. 7, 2026

It sits not on a foundation but on helical piers screwed into the ground.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026

It is called Roots & Shoots because roots move gradually under the ground to make a firm foundation, and shoots seem small and weak, but to reach the light they can break open brick walls.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

Related Words

• association
• charity
• company
• corporation
• endowment
• establishment
• institute
• organization
• society