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

Collaboration is foundational to our success as a business. —Hang Nguyen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025

Negligence is rendering the old sanatorium unhabitable, bit by bit, as a widening foundational crack threatens to cleave the building in two. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025

LanzaJet’s success demonstrates that the foundational technology exists today to finally accelerate the transition. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025

Best Jeans Deals A winter wardrobe is only as strong as its foundational pieces. —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 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