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

Sodium reduction stays foundational, but potassium, abundant in bananas, potatoes, beans, spinach and yogurt, is likely to appear more prominently in guidelines, apps and food-tracking tools. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

The city played a foundational role in the development of the Italian film industry before much of that activity shifted to Rome, and is still home to Italy’s National Museum of Cinema. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Glasper, whose work has long bridged jazz, hip-hop, R&B and contemporary music, has frequently cited Davis as a foundational influence and previously served as producer on the 2016 Miles Davis tribute album Everything’s Beautiful. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

In any case, Animals lifts most of its foundational plot elements directly from that source, which was loosely adapted from an Ed McBain novel. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 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