cornerstone

noun

cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall

specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony

2

: a basic element : foundation

a cornerstone of foreign policy

Synonyms

• base
• basis
• bedrock
• bottom
• footing
• foundation
• ground
• groundwork
• keystone
• root
• underpinning
• warp
• warp and woof

Examples of cornerstone in a Sentence

Officials held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for a new library.

Trust is the cornerstone of their relationship.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond its own success, Bitcoin has been the cornerstone of a rapidly expanding cryptocurrency ecosystem. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 5 Dec. 2024

Trade shows are a cornerstone of marketing strategies for growing companies in nearly every industry imaginable, and entrepreneurs make big investments to showcase their businesses in front of important customers on exhibition floors. —Wayne Cantwell, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Bryar became a cornerstone of My Chemical Romance’s evolution, contributing to their 2006 opus The Black Parade. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2024

Small businesses are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of Americans. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cornerstone

noun

cor·​ner·​stone ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone forming part of a corner in a wall

2

: something of basic importance

the cornerstone of our foreign policy