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

Friendships can be so foundational that people are finding ways to legally recognize them. —Myisha Battle, TIME, 17 July 2024

But this does nothing to address the fact that the company built its foundational models using authors’ and other creators’ works without consent, compensation or control over how OpenAI users will be able to imitate the artists’ styles to create new works. —Mary Rasenberger, Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2024

Through a somewhat effective montage intercutting the title character’s recent heartbreak and foundational memories, the filmmaker states that Dandelion’s talent isn’t dependent on who is tagging along for her ride but what’s ingrained within her. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 12 July 2024

The Armory Show has long been celebrated as a foundational fair for New York and the US art market. —News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above