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Synonyms

foundational

American  
[foun-dey-shuh-nl] / faʊnˈdeɪ ʃə nl /
Rarely foundationary

adjective

  1. of or relating to the basis or groundwork on which something rests or is built; needing to be understood or established at the beginning.

    We believe that fostering a strong local community is a foundational component of our inner-city scholarship program, guiding everything else we do.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of foundational

foundation ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )

Vocabulary lists containing foundational

Important

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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.

“Animal protein remains top of mind for consumers and continues to gain momentum as a foundational part of a healthy diet,” Tyson CEO Donnie King said during the company’s earnings call on Monday.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

Take the now demolished Coliseum Theater on 181st Street, which served as a foundational space for Vargas’ path to cinema.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

“It was foundational and had such a wonderful impact in creating a more multiracial democracy where our representatives look more like the general population,” Klein said.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

But in this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rest on past achievements or assume that foundational principles simply endure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

We cannot understand science without studying the history of these foundational concepts.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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.