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

This requires a rethinking of K-12 curricula to include a strong grounding in foundational skills and academic content coupled with durable skills (e.g., learning how to learn, critical thinking, collaboration, communication). —Sari Factor, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

The app will include free foundational content, with premium courses priced under $500 for lifetime access. —William Mullane, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

As more individuals, academics, and smaller companies expect to be able to engage with AI without requiring massive infrastructure investments, the trend of trying to mimic the performance of foundational models and tune them to specific tasks is growing. —Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025

Their sacrifices and bravery were foundational to the nation’s independence, and acknowledging their stories ensures a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of American history. —Will Minter, Hartford Courant, 26 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