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

The data shared in our letter showed serious concerns and a significant lack of adherence to policy in those foundational aspects of case practice. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026

One law enshrines Torah study as a foundational state value in a Basic Law, a move that critics say lays the constitutional groundwork for exemptions to survive future Supreme Court challenges. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

The filmmaker who has spent his career defending the theatrical experience adapts one of literature’s foundational myths on an enormous scale. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 July 2026

This foundational layer is crucial for the responsible scaling of AI, allowing organizations to identify and manage agents operating across various platforms. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 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