cornerstone

noun

cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall

specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony

2

: a basic element : foundation

a cornerstone of foreign policy

Synonyms

• base
• basis
• bedrock
• bottom
• footing
• foundation
• ground
• groundwork
• keystone
• root
• underpinning
• warp
• warp and woof

Examples of cornerstone in a Sentence

Officials held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for a new library.

Trust is the cornerstone of their relationship.

Recent Examples on the Web

Data and Compute as Pillars of AI Innovation Ranjan views data and compute as the cornerstones of successful AI adoption. —Peter High, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

As an industrial revolution took root in American society in the decades that followed, tariffs remained a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy. —Erik Guzik / The Conversation, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024

Nvidia has emerged as a cornerstone of the global semiconductor industry, thanks to the essential role its chips play in powering generative AI technologies which has driven a seven-fold surge in its shares over the past two years. —Reuters, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024

The sweeping executive order is a cornerstone of the Biden administration's tech policy work. —Maria Curi, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cornerstone

noun

cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone forming part of a corner in a wall

2

: something of basic importance

the cornerstone of our foreign policy