foundation stone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, ceremonial, journalistic, metaphorical.
Quick answer
What does “foundation stone” mean?
A ceremonial stone laid at the beginning of construction of a building, often inscribed and placed in a public ceremony.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ceremonial stone laid at the beginning of construction of a building, often inscribed and placed in a public ceremony.
The fundamental basis or starting point of something; the essential element on which something is built or established.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'foundation stone' is the standard term. In American English, 'cornerstone' is far more common for both literal and figurative uses, though 'foundation stone' is understood.
Connotations
In UK usage, it strongly connotes ceremony and tradition (e.g., royal involvement). In US usage, 'cornerstone' carries similar ceremonial weight but is more integrated into general metaphorical language.
Frequency
High frequency in UK formal/news contexts; lower frequency in general US English, where 'cornerstone' dominates.
Grammar
How to Use “foundation stone” in a Sentence
[Someone] laid the foundation stone for [something] in [year/place].The foundation stone of [abstract concept] is [core principle].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foundation stone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Princess Royal will foundation-stone the new wing next Tuesday.
American English
- The governor is scheduled to cornerstone the memorial plaza.
adjective
British English
- The foundation-stone plaque listed the original donors.
American English
- The cornerstone ceremony attracted local media.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'Transparency is the foundation stone of our client relationships.'
Academic
Historical analysis: 'The 1689 Bill of Rights acted as a foundation stone for modern parliamentary democracy.'
Everyday
Literal/News: 'The mayor laid the foundation stone for the new community centre.'
Technical
Construction/Heritage: 'The foundation stone was found to contain a time capsule from 1901.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foundation stone”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foundation stone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foundation stone”
- Using 'fundamental stone' (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'foundation' alone (which is the whole base, not the ceremonial stone).
- Misspelling as two separate words without hyphen when used attributively (e.g., 'foundation-stone ceremony' is often hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Literally, a 'foundation stone' is a stone in the foundation, while a 'cornerstone' is at a corner. Metaphorically, they are near synonyms, but 'cornerstone' is more common in American English and in general figurative use.
Yes, but it's rare and chiefly British (e.g., 'to foundation-stone a building'). The verb 'to cornerstone' is more common, especially in American English.
No. Its metaphorical use for abstract concepts (e.g., principles, theories, relationships) is very common, especially in formal writing.
Use it with verbs like 'lay', 'be', 'serve as'. E.g., 'He laid the foundation stone.' or 'This principle is the foundation stone of our philosophy.'
A ceremonial stone laid at the beginning of construction of a building, often inscribed and placed in a public ceremony.
Foundation stone is usually formal, ceremonial, journalistic, metaphorical. in register.
Foundation stone: in British English it is pronounced /faʊnˈdeɪʃən stəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /faʊnˈdeɪʃən stoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be the foundation stone of something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a stone with the word 'FOUND' written on it. This is the stone you FOUND everything else on. It's the FOUND-ation.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/INSTITUTIONS ARE BUILDINGS ("The foundation stone of the theory was laid by Einstein.")
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'foundation stone' LEAST likely to be used?