foundational

adjective

foun·​da·​tion·​al fau̇n-ˈdā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

: of, relating to, or forming or serving as a base or foundation : fundamental

foundational principles/doctrines

These foundational volumes proved to be, each in its own way, enabling gestures for the growth of sophisticated theories and critical practices in African, Caribbean, and African American literatures.

—Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Property was, in a sense, foundational to culture, since English political economy rested on the private ownership of land, and the political economy, in turn, largely structured social relations.

—Jill Lepore

Philosophy is a foundational discipline. Not only does it do the spadework that makes the construction of other disciplines possible; it also pays constant attention to the foundations of those disciplines as they are practiced.

—Cognitive Science

foundationally adverb

Examples of foundational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some who knew Mister Cee have already turned to social media to tribute the foundational DJ. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

Dorsey’s actions took the couple – who enjoyed riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and camping, according to their obituaries – from their young daughter, who grew up without her parents at foundational moments of her life. —Dakin Andone, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

His groundbreaking approach to abstraction and the philosophical themes in his work have been foundational in evolving our thinking about the collection. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024

Despite making foundational contributions to the genre, Black artists are too often dismissed by fans and programmers who too invested in country music as an arena solely for white voices from rural areas singing about white experiences in rural areas. —Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024

Multiple professors raised her name as one of the foundational researchers in African American English and its treatment in schools. —Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2024

Instead, it’s meant to outline foundational principles to guide development downtown over the next decade. —Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 21 Mar. 2024

But here's one foundational and fundamental principle that serves as a great launching point: Workplace Physical and Mental Health Mental health and obesity are two growing issues in society that significantly affect the workplace. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

In these emerging digital landscapes, NFTs serve as foundational elements, facilitating the ownership and exchange of virtual goods, properties, and even identities. —Kyle Russell, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above