foundation

[ foun-dey-shuhn ]

/ faʊnˈdeɪ ʃən /

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noun

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.

Nearby words

foumart, found, found art, found object, found poem, foundation, foundation day, foundation garment, foundation stone, foundation subjects, foundational

Origin of foundation

1350–1400; Middle English foundacioun < Latin fundātiōn- (stem of fundātiō), equivalent to fundāt(us) (past participle of fundāre; see found²) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR foundation

2, 3 footing.

4, 5 establishment, settlement.

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ANTONYMS FOR foundation

2, 3 superstructure.

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Related formsfoun·da·tion·al, adjectivefoun·da·tion·al·ly, adverbfoun·da·tion·ar·y, adjectivepre·foun·da·tion, noun

Synonym study

2. See base¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foundation

These two videos rest atop bookmarked links to The Jeffrey Epstein Foundation.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Vital Voices in 2013 took over funds from the Women In The World foundation which originated at The Daily Beast.
Joe Biden: ‘I’ll Kill Your Son’|Olivia Nuzzi|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I called, the Jackie Joyner Kersey Foundation answered.
The Disappearing Cops of East St. Louis|Justin Glawe|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"They left here about a week ago," a man at the foundation said.
The Disappearing Cops of East St. Louis|Justin Glawe|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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 Reproduction|Eleanor Clift|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From its foundation in 1752 to 1830, when it became the Royal Infirmary.
The Great Civil War in Lancashire (1642-1651)|Ernest Broxap
But the foundation for this kind of idealism we have already destroyed in the transcendental aesthetic.
The Critique of Pure Reason|Immanuel Kant
It was, in fact, the possibility of such conflict which was recognized by our theory as the origin and foundation of society.
Liberalism|L. T. Hobhouse
They are the hope of every American, and we must make them the foundation of Social Security.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
If the wall be five or six feet thick, the charges should be placed under the foundation.
Elements of Military Art and Science|Henry Wager Halleck

British Dictionary definitions for foundation

foundation

/ (faʊnˈdeɪʃən) /

noun

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 foundation entitled 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

Derived Formsfoundational, adjectivefoundationally, adverbfoundationary, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foundation

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

noun

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Origin of foundation

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for foundation

British Dictionary definitions for foundation

foundation

noun

Word Origin and History for foundation

foundation

Medicine definitions for foundation

foundation

n.