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

As with prevention, daily skin care is foundational, with regular moisturizing needed to restore the protective barrier. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025

Read and share some of her foundational work. —JSTOR Daily, 3 Oct. 2025

Cuts and changes to foundational federal programs for low-income people — namely, SNAP and Medicaid — are a looming concern. —ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025

As Mason explained, forgiveness and peacemaking are both foundational to the religion and core tenets of Nelson's leadership. —Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foundational

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