ENGLISH
REFERENCE

founder

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈfaʊndɝ// UK //fˈaʊndɐ// founder Archaic General-service

n. the person who starts a new company, group, or organization. You use this to describe someone who creates something from nothing.

n. a person who establishes an institution, company, or organization. Often used in professional contexts to denote the individual responsible for the initial vision and legal creation of an entity.


SIMPLE

The founder of the company still works in the office every day.

CONTEXTUAL

As the original founder, she retained a seat on the board even after the company went public.

COMPLEX

The university's founder envisioned an institution that would bridge the gap between classical education and modern industrial needs.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Old French fondeur, from Latin fundātor, equivalent to found + -er.

Etymology 2

From Middle French fondeur, from Latin fundo (“pour, melt, cast”).

Etymology 3

From Middle French fondrer (“send to the bottom”), from Latin fundus (“bottom”).

Usage

Often paired with 'of' to specify the organization created.

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