foundation
- the basis or groundwork of anything: the moral foundation of both society and religion.
- the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.
- the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.
- the act of founding, setting up, establishing, etc.: a policy in effect since the foundation.
- the state of being founded.
- an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc.: the Ford Foundation.
- an endowment for such an institution.
- a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup.
- foundation garment.
- Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit.
Origin of foundation
Synonyms for foundation
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Antonyms for foundation
Related Words for foundation
infrastructure, groundwork, support, authority, base, bedrock, institute, corporation, company, society, organization, establishment, endowment, association, charity, heart, footing, justification, bottom, nitty-grittyExamples from the Web for foundation
Contemporary Examples of foundation
These two videos rest atop bookmarked links to The Jeffrey Epstein Foundation.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen HawkingM.L. Nestel
January 8, 2015
Vital Voices in 2013 took over funds from the Women In The World foundation which originated at The Daily Beast.
When I called, the Jackie Joyner Kersey Foundation answered.
"They left here about a week ago," a man at the foundation said.
The foundation, named after her mother, provides financial help to needy families that are infertile.
Want Blue Eyes With That Baby?: The Strange New World of Human ReproductionEleanor Clift
November 24, 2014
Historical Examples of foundation
But let not the foundation of our hope rest upon man's wisdom.
"Look at the way that foundation's put in," said the old man in a loud voice.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
It has been determined, however, that this belief has no foundation.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
God forbid that I—But no happiness is built on a foundation of wrong.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
Let us see if there is any foundation for this sentimental balderdash.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
foundation
- that on which something is founded; basis
- (often plural) a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building, wall, etc
- the base on which something stands
- the act of founding or establishing or the state of being founded or established
- an endowment or legacy for the perpetual support of an institution such as a school or hospital
- on the foundationentitled to benefit from the funds of a foundation
- an institution supported by an endowment, often one that provides funds for charities, research, etc
- the charter incorporating or establishing a society or institution and the statutes or rules governing its affairs
- a cosmetic in cream or cake form used as a base for make-up
- See foundation garment
- cards a card on which a sequence may be built
Word Origin and History for foundation
late 14c., "action of founding," from Old French fondacion (14c.) or directly from Latin fundationem (nominative fundatio) "a founding," noun of action from past participle stem of fundare (see found (v.1)). The Latin word is glossed in Old English by staþol. Meaning "that which is founded" (a college, hospital, etc.) is from 1510s; meaning "funds endowed" is early 15c. Sense of "solid base of a structure" is from late 15c.
foundation
(foun-dā′shən)- The basis on which something stands or is supported; a base.