cornerstone

noun

cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn How to pronounce cornerstone (audio)
1
: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall
specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony
2
: a basic element : foundation
a cornerstone of foreign policy

Examples of cornerstone in a Sentence

Officials held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for a new library. Trust is the cornerstone of their relationship.
Recent Examples on the Web Many locals see the triplex as the cornerstone of a historic neighborhood whose connection to the Arechiga family serves as an important reminder of a dark moment in the city’s past. Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 And Sam, for so many years, was the sort of cornerstone of that. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 Do this consistently, and guest blogging can become a cornerstone of your content marketing strategy. Jon Stojan, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 The offer included two first-round picks and more, and the Panthers passed on the swap with the idea that Burns was a cornerstone player. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 This dedication to mastering marketing has been a cornerstone of my successful business ventures since then. Steve Taplin, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Pankaj Udhas, a singer from India whose soulful renditions of ghazals, or lyric love songs, were a cornerstone of many Bollywood films over his decades-long career, died in Mumbai on Monday. John Yoon, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Tailoring Your Study Approach A nuanced approach to studying, tailored to individual schedules and learning styles, is often cited as a cornerstone of success. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 As digital and physical systems integration accelerates within the manufacturing sector, digital twins emerge as a cornerstone technology. Oleg Fonarov, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cornerstone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornerstone was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near cornerstone

Cite this Entry

“Cornerstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornerstone. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cornerstone

noun
cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn How to pronounce cornerstone (audio)
1
: a stone forming part of a corner in a wall
2
: something of basic importance
the cornerstone of our foreign policy

More from Merriam-Webster on cornerstone

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