A foundational principle of modern physics is that the speed of light remains constant in all inertial frames of reference.
现代物理学的一个基本原则是，光速在所有惯性参考系中保持不变。
Critics called the idea impractical, but her work on the compiler—a program that translates human-readable code into machine instructions—became foundational to modern software.
From a Central Ideas and Details question · Information and Ideas
- Frequency-hopping principles from her patent eventually became foundational to modern technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
From a Rhetorical Synthesis question · Expression of Ideas
Which choice best defines “foundational”?
C — Forming the base or core of something. “foundational” means forming the base or core of something.
Which word means “forming the base or core of something”?
A — foundational. “foundational” means forming the base or core of something.
foundational — forming the base or core of something. In Chinese: 基础的.
foundational is pronounced /faʊnˈdeɪʃənl/.
A foundational principle of modern physics is that the speed of light remains constant in all inertial frames of reference. (现代物理学的一个基本原则是，光速在所有惯性参考系中保持不变。)
basic, fundamental, core — all close in meaning to foundational (forming the base or core of something).
secondary, peripheral — each the opposite of foundational (forming the base or core of something).
Yes. foundational is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.