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

Kindergarten readiness encompasses the foundational skills necessary to engage in a more formal learning environment, said Ohio State University educational psychology professor Laura Justice. —Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026

This dynamic, according to Alexander, can explain why some students reach the end of their formal schooling without a strong sense of mastery in foundational skills. —Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026

Here’s everything to know about Kate Middleton’s childhood homes, a foundational part of her pre-royal life. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026

Many Democrats, however, are staying focused on health care, an issue that was once a political liability but has become foundational for the party in recent elections. —Ali Swenson, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026

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