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

In 1943, Abraham Maslow published his foundational work on the hierarchy of human needs. —Barry Libert, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

With a handful of foundational elements in hand from Reddick’s story, Morgan and Wong started working on the shooting script. —Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025

More often than not though, the result will be that the house falls short of the buyer’s expectations because of unknown structural or foundational damage, aging appliances, or unsafe conditions, requiring repairs and improvements. —Dean Pedon, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2025

This violates the foundational principle of the U.S. having three independent branches of government. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 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