foundation
fown-DAY-shun
/faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.
Can refer to the physical structure (concrete) or the soil itself that supports the structure.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'fundatio', from 'fundus' (bottom). It originally referred to the bottom of a container or the base of a wall.
Word relationships
- base: Base is general; foundation is specifically the structural support for a building.
- footing: A footing is a specific type of shallow foundation that spreads the load.
- superstructure: The part of the building above the ground.
Commonly confused with
- basement: A basement is a room below ground; a foundation is the structural support (which may or may not include a basement).
Word family
- found (verb): To establish or build the base of.
- founder (noun): A person who establishes something.
Collocations
- lay a foundation
- solid foundation
- foundation stone
Idioms & expressions
- shake the foundations
Example sentences
- "The skyscraper requires a deep foundation of steel piles driven into the bedrock." Construction
- "A strong education is the foundation of a successful career." Metaphorical usage
Memory hook
You 'found' (find) the 'foundation' at the bottom. The bottom that holds the top.
When not to use
In makeup, it's a base layer; in charity, it's an organization. Ensure context is clear.
Fun facts
- The Burj Khalifa's foundation consists of a 3.7-meter thick concrete mat supported by 192 bored reinforced concrete piles.
Related words
Explore more words
foundational, load-bearing, chassis, infrastructure, masonry
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.