foundation stone
Americannoun
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any of the stones composing the foundation of a building.
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a cornerstone.
noun
Etymology
Origin of foundation stone
First recorded in 1645–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The foundation stone for the Ushuaia base was laid in 2022 by the previous center-left government in Buenos Aires, but work has since stalled.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Watson’s 1965 textbook, “Molecular Biology of the Gene,” became a foundation stone of modern biology.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2025
Human oversight is a foundation stone of what is known as "responsible" AI.
From BBC ● Jul. 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
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
