foundation stone

American  

noun

1. any of the stones composing the foundation of a building.

2. a cornerstone.

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foundation stone British  

noun

1. a stone laid at a ceremony to mark the foundation of a new building

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Etymology

Origin of foundation stone

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foundation stone

Watson’s 1965 textbook, “Molecular Biology of the Gene,” became a foundation stone of modern biology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2025

"It is completely staggering... that an organisation envisaged as a foundation stone of our collective security was established with a leadership hamstrung by a lack of formal governance," committee chair Meg Hillier said.

From Reuters ● Jul. 4, 2023

There, he pioneered the technique of playing two copies of the same song at once, alternating between turntables to extend the instrumental portions of funk and soul records, that became the foundation stone of hip-hop.

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2023

The current emir’s mother, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned, had laid the foundation stone for the project in the heart of Beirut in 2009.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2023

We must stress this point, it will be the foundation stone upon which we build.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling