founder
FOWN-der
/ˈfaʊndər/
A person who establishes an institution or settlement; (verb) to fail or sink.
As a noun, it implies the visionary who started the entity. As a verb, it describes a ship filling with water and sinking, or a plan failing completely.
The story behind the word. The noun 'founder' comes from the Old French 'fondeur,' meaning someone who melts metal or sets a base. The verb 'founder' comes from the Latin 'fundus,' meaning 'bottom'—literally to hit the bottom of the sea.
Word relationships
- creator: Creator is more general; a founder specifically sets up an organization or structure.
- originator: Originator refers to the person who had the initial idea, while a founder does the work of establishing it.
- successor: A successor is someone who takes over a position or company after the founder has left.
Commonly confused with
- finder: A finder discovers something that already exists; a founder creates something new.
Word family
- foundation (noun): The basis or groundwork of anything.
- founding (adjective): Relating to the start of an organization.
Collocations
- co-founder
- sole founder
- founding father
- founding member
Example sentences
- "Steve Jobs was a co-founder of Apple Computer." Discussing the origins of a famous company.
- "The negotiations began to founder when the two sides could not agree on the price." Using the verb form to describe failure.
Memory hook
A founder lays the 'foundation' of the company. The Founder builds the Foundation.
When not to use
Do not use 'founder' for someone who just manages a company; they must have been there at its creation.
Fun facts
- In the world of startups, a 'founding team' is often considered more stable by investors than a 'solo founder'.
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