# founded

/ˈfaʊndɪd/ (US) · /fˈaʊndɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/founded
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. started an organisation

verb · CEFR B2

started a company, school, or city that is still around today.

For teachers: the past tense of 'found', meaning to establish or set up an institution, organisation, or settlement with provision for its future.

- The university was founded in 1850 by a group of local teachers.
- The tech giant was founded in a small garage, eventually growing into a global corporation that redefined modern communication.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when discussing the history of institutions.

### 2. based on facts

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having a good reason or a solid base of facts.

For teachers: having a specified basis or foundation; frequently used in the negative 'unfounded' or with adverbs like 'well-founded'.

- Her fears were well-founded because the storm was getting much worse.
- The committee concluded that the allegations were well-founded, supported by a significant volume of internal documentation and witness testimony.

Usage: Commonly appears in the compound 'well-founded' to indicate a logical or factual basis.

## Examples

- She founded the company ten years ago.
- The university was founded in 1850 to provide affordable education to the local community.
- While many startups fail within their first year, this non-profit was founded on such robust ethical principles that it has survived several major economic downturns.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.