foundational

Rarely foun·da·tion·ar·y

[foun-dey-shuh-nl]

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

• foundationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of foundational¹

foundation ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

He described the letter as "completely foundational", "unambiguous" and "emphatic".

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“Networking has become a foundational pillar of HPE’s business. With the acquisition of Juniper Networks, Inc., HPE has created an opportunity to disrupt the status quo in the networking industry,” HPE said on Wednesday.

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"By linking foundational stem cell science with applied toxicology, this model moves organoid research another step closer to transforming how drugs are developed and tested."

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Their work on the economics of technological innovation is timely and foundational to understanding how AI could change the economic landscape.

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He lashed out at "a European Union that has betrayed its foundational principles" and serves "a globalist bureaucracy".

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Related Words

• central 
• constitutional 
• crucial 
• elemental 
• elementary 
• essential 
• indispensable 
• integral 
• intrinsic 
• major 
• necessary 
• paramount 
• principal 
• radical 
• significant 
• structural 
• theoretical 
• underlying 
• vital