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Definition of foundational

foundational

/faʊnˈdeɪ.ʃən.əl/
foun · da · tion · al
Adverb:foundationally
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foundational Lexical Profile

foundational Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Forming or relating to an essential base, groundwork, or underlying principle upon which something else is built or developed.

Example

"Phonemic awareness is a foundational skill for early reading development."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for foundational

• Nearby Words

foulness
found
foundation
foundational
foundationally
foundationless
founder

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from 'foundation' plus the suffix '-al', ultimately tracing back through Old French to the Latin verb 'fundare', meaning 'to lay the bottom or base of something'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Foundational. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/foundational
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