foundation

foundation — noun

1. the occasion when someone brings an important institution, organization, or syst

1.nounB2
Definition

the occasion when someone brings an important institution, organization, or system into existence

Example

Sora attended the ceremony marking the foundation of the new Asian research institute.

foundation of + institution

The foundation of the company took place in a small office above a bookshop.

Common collocations
  • foundation of
  • since its foundation
  • foundation date
Synonyms
  • establishment

    more general; can apply to rules, systems, or institutions

  • creation

    focuses on the act of bringing something into existence; used for both concrete and abstract things

  • institution

    refers to the resulting organization, not the act of starting it

Antonyms
  • dissolution

    the act of officially ending an organization

Grammar Patterns

foundation + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — do not use 'a foundation' when you mean the act of founding. For a specific countable entity founded, see Sense 2.

Common Mistakes

The foundation of the school happened in 1965.
The school was founded in 1965.
In everyday English, the verb 'found' is more natural than the noun for specifying when something started.

2. an organization that uses money from an endowment or donations to support charit

2.nounB2
Definition

an organization that uses money from an endowment or donations to support charitable, educational, or scientific activities

Example

The local foundation awarded scholarships to students from low-income families this year.

foundation + awards/gives + object

Shirin applied for a research grant from a foundation that supports climate science.

Common collocations
  • apply to a foundation
  • foundation grant
  • set up a foundation
  • foundation funds
Synonyms
  • charity

    focuses on aid for people in need; not all foundations are charities

  • endowment

    refers to the money or assets themselves, not the organization

  • trust

    a legal arrangement, often used interchangeably with foundation in some contexts

Grammar Patterns

the + foundation + preposition + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used as the subject of verbs like 'award', 'fund', 'donate', and 'support'. The name of a specific foundation usually begins with a capital letter: 'the Rockefeller Foundation'.

Common Mistakes

I work for a foundation that help poor families.
I work for a foundation that helps poor families.
'Foundation' is singular and takes a singular verb.

3. the opening class of primary education in the United Kingdom, for children aged

3.nounB2
Definition

the opening class of primary education in the United Kingdom, for children aged four to five, also called Reception

Example

Eli started foundation class in September at the primary school near his home.

foundation class — compound noun

The foundation year programme focuses on basic reading skills and counting through play.

Common collocations
  • foundation class
  • foundation stage
  • foundation year
Synonyms
  • reception

    the more common name for this school year in the UK

  • kindergarten

    used in the US and other countries for the same age group but with a different curriculum

Grammar Patterns

foundation + noun (class/year/stage)

Usage Note

This sense is mainly used in the UK education system. Outside the UK, 'foundation year' can refer to a preparatory year at university. The compound forms 'foundation class', 'foundation stage', and 'foundation year' are common.

4. the solid underground structure, usually made of concrete or stone, that support

4.nounB2
Definition

the solid underground structure, usually made of concrete or stone, that supports a building from below and keeps it stable

Example

The builders poured concrete into the trenches to form the foundation of the new school.

pour concrete for the foundation of

Cracks in the foundation can cause serious damage to a house over many years.

Common collocations
  • concrete foundation
  • lay the foundations
  • foundation wall
  • foundation crack
Synonyms
  • base

    more general; can refer to the bottom part of any object or structure

  • footing

    a technical term for the part of a foundation that spreads the weight over the ground

  • substructure

    the supporting structure below ground level; more formal and technical

Grammar Patterns

the foundations + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'foundations' when referring to the entire base system of a building. The singular 'foundation' can refer to the base as a whole unit or one part of it.

Common Mistakes

The foundation of the building is cracking.
The foundations of the building are cracking.
For the structural base of a building, speakers often prefer the plural form.

5. a basic fact, principle, or idea that supports or underlies something and allows

5.nounB1
Definition

a basic fact, principle, or idea that supports or underlies something and allows it to develop — for example, trust being the foundation of a good relationship, or reading skills being the foundation of learning

Example

Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship between two people.

foundation of [abstract]

Andrei's argument had no solid foundation in the available research data.

Common collocations
  • solid foundation
  • strong foundation
  • provide the foundation
  • lay the foundation
Synonyms
  • basis

    very similar in meaning; 'basis' is slightly more common in everyday speech

  • groundwork

    focuses on the preparatory work done before something can develop

  • bedrock

    stronger, more emphatic; suggests something solid and unshakable

  • cornerstone

    emphasises that something is essential and comes first

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

foundation + of + abstract noun

foundation + for + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used with the verbs 'provide', 'form', 'establish', and 'lay'. The preposition 'for' introduces what the foundation supports, while 'of' introduces the thing that acts as the foundation.

Common Mistakes

The foundation of the problem is the lack of money.
The root of the problem is the lack of money.
Use 'root' when describing the cause of a problem; 'foundation' describes what something is built upon, not what causes it.

6. used in the fixed expression 'without foundation' to mean that a claim, rumour,

6.nounB2
Definition

used in the fixed expression 'without foundation' to mean that a claim, rumour, or belief is not based on facts and is therefore untrue

Example

The rumours about the manager leaving the company were completely without foundation.

without foundation — fixed expression

Hassan proved that the accusations against his team were entirely without foundation.

Common collocations
  • without foundation
  • entirely without foundation
  • completely without foundation
Synonyms
  • unfounded

    adjective with the same meaning; more common in formal writing

  • groundless

    emphasises that there is no reason or evidence for a claim

  • baseless

    focuses on the lack of supporting facts; slightly stronger

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

without + foundation

be + without + foundation

Usage Note

Only used in the negative expression 'without foundation' (or 'have no foundation'). There is no positive form — you cannot say 'a claim has foundation' in this sense; use Sense 5 instead for positive statements about factual basis.

Common Mistakes

The story has no foundation in truth' (ambiguous between sense 5 and sense 6).
The story is without foundation.
For the meaning 'untrue', the fixed expression 'without foundation' is clearer and more idiomatic.

7. a cream or liquid in a skin-tone colour that you put on your face to create an e

7.nounB1
Definition

a cream or liquid in a skin-tone colour that you put on your face to create an even surface before applying other make-up

Example

Sari applied a light layer of foundation before putting on eye shadow and lipstick.

apply a layer of foundation

Jude bought a new foundation that matched his skin tone perfectly from the shop.

Common collocations
  • apply foundation
  • liquid foundation
  • foundation brush
  • wear foundation
Synonyms
  • base

    short for 'base make-up'; used in the UK cosmetics industry

  • face make-up

    more general; includes other products like concealer and powder

  • tinted moisturiser

    a lighter alternative that provides less coverage than foundation

Grammar Patterns

apply + foundation

wear + foundation

foundation + noun (bottle/brand/shade)

Usage Note

Uncountable in standard use. When shopping, speakers sometimes say 'a foundation' meaning 'a type/bottle of foundation' ('I bought a new foundation'). This is an informal countable extension and is not standard in formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

I need to buy foundation creams for my face.
I need to buy foundation for my face.
'Foundation' is uncountable; do not pluralise it when referring to the product.
Idioms

Word family

  • found
    verbB2
  • founder
    nounB2
  • foundational
    adjectiveC1
  • unfounded
    adjectiveB2
  • foundationless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/5

All four words describe something that supports or underlies a system, idea, or development, but they differ in emphasis and register. 'Basis' is the most common and neutral term — it can refer to any starting point or underlying support ('the basis of the argument', 'on a weekly basis'). 'Foundation' suggests something more solid and permanent, often implying that what is built on it will last. 'Groundwork' emphasises the preparatory effort or spadework done before something can begin ('the groundwork for the peace deal took two years'). 'Bedrock' is more emphatic and figurative, drawn from geology — it suggests an unshakable, fundamental layer ('trust is the bedrock of democracy'). 'Cornerstone' originally referred to the first stone laid in a building and now means the essential element on which everything else depends. In everyday writing, 'basis' fits most situations; 'foundation' is stronger; 'groundwork' points to prior work; and 'bedrock' and 'cornerstone' are more dramatic and best saved for formal or persuasive contexts.

basis ↗groundworkbedrockcornerstone

Common collocations

Phrases

  • lay the foundation(s) for
  • provide a foundation for
  • form the foundation of

Prepositions

  • foundation for
  • foundation of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'foundation' entered English through Old French 'fondation', from Latin 'fundatio' (meaning 'a founding'), which comes from the verb 'fundare' ('to lay a foundation, to establish'). The root 'fundus' means 'bottom' or 'base'. The sense of a charitable institution developed in the 16th century, and the make-up sense appeared in the early 20th century. The fixed expression 'without foundation' (meaning 'unfounded') has been used since the 17th century.