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
Cite this Entry
“Foundational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foundational. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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