foundation
Americannoun
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the basis or groundwork of anything.
the moral foundation of both society and religion.
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the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.
- Synonyms:
- footing
- Antonyms:
- superstructure
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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
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the act of founding, found, setting up, establishing, etc..
a policy in effect since the foundation.
- Synonyms:
- settlement, establishment
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the state of being founded. found.
- Synonyms:
- settlement, establishment
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an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc..
the Ford Foundation.
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an endowment for such an institution.
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a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup.
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Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit.
noun
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that on which something is founded; basis
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(often plural) a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building, wall, etc
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the base on which something stands
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the act of founding or establishing or the state of being founded or established
-
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an endowment or legacy for the perpetual support of an institution such as a school or hospital
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entitled to benefit from the funds of a foundation
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an institution supported by an endowment, often one that provides funds for charities, research, etc
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the charter incorporating or establishing a society or institution and the statutes or rules governing its affairs
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a cosmetic in cream or cake form used as a base for make-up
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cards a card on which a sequence may be built
Related Words
See base 1.
Other Word Forms
- foundational adjective
- foundationally adverb
- foundationary adjective
- prefoundation noun
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; found 1 ) + -iōn- -ion
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 original sense of “bottom” survives in many words related to “fund,” including foundation, fundamental, profound and the medical term fundus, the area of a hollow organ that is farthest away from the organ’s opening.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Putting her own stamp on the design foundation she inherited was also important for Farr.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
His family has started a foundation in his honor that will, in part, help “promote responsible decision-making,” according to the description of a GoFundMe page set up to support the project.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
The discovery of the gene SLC35F2 fills that gap and provides a foundation for future research.
From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026
Bobby remained resolute in his views, even though almost all grandmasters and many other members of the chess fraternity insisted that his accusations had no credible foundation.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
