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

Over-reliance on AI for immediate conclusions risks individuals missing the crucial process of building foundational knowledge and critical thinking. — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

In 2026, as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial, and crowds flock accordingly to foundational sites like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, that fact can be easily forgotten. — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026

This year’s milestone edition furthers that legacy by pairing foundational film voices with the next generation of artistic troublemakers. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026

That foundational research established that physiological signals can be voluntarily shaped with practice when immediate feedback is provided, which is the same principle behind today’s consumer HRV biofeedback tools. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 2 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