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

For those in foundational or middleware layers, accuracy, reliability and latency are paramount. —Mala Ramakrishnan, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Supernovae evidence for foundational change to cosmological models: arxiv.org/abs/2412.15143 cosmology 1 free article left Want More? —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024

Thanks to their ample warmth, versatility, and potential for styling, a matching set might just be a foundational addition to your winter wardrobe. —Christina Holevas, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2024

Greg was foundational to CBS, the straight-man with the light touch. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above