foundational

adjective

foun·​da·​tion·​al fau̇n-ˈdā-sh(ə-)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

Whereas once Washington’s antislavery credentials were wielded to bring slavery to an end, today some conservatives highlight Washington’s ostensible opposition to slavery to deemphasize slavery’s foundational importance in American history. — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026

In the 1970s Birman wrote a foundational book for mathematicians, Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 24 July 2026

As technology undergoes rapid transformation, a system of record is foundational to these brands’ AI strategies. — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The book offers readers a closer look at how Nolan adapted Homer’s foundational Greek poem for the screen, including the film’s dialogue and scene descriptions. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foundational

• formational
• gestational
• gradational
• locational
• mutational
• notational
• relational
• rotational
• sensational
• translational
• vibrational
• vocational