# founder

/ˈfaʊndɝ/ (US) · /fˈaʊndɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. person who starts something

noun · CEFR B2

someone who starts a new company, organization, or school.

For teachers: one who establishes or creates an institution, company, or organization.

- The founder of the tech company started the business in his garage.
- The university's founder donated a significant portion of his private estate to ensure the library remained open to the public.

### 2. metal worker

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person who works with hot metal and pours it into shapes.

For teachers: a person who casts metal in a foundry.

- The master founder carefully poured the liquid bronze into the statue's mold.
- The industrial museum features a preserved workshop where a skilled founder once produced intricate iron gates for the city.

### 3. to fail

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to fail or break down completely.

For teachers: to experience complete failure or to break down; often used of plans, negotiations, or relationships.

- The peace talks foundered because neither side wanted to compromise.
- The ambitious project foundered on a lack of funding and a series of logistical errors that the management failed to address.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and often takes the preposition 'on'.

## Examples

- The founder of the company still works in the office every day.
- As the original founder, she retained a seat on the board even after the company went public.
- The university's founder envisioned an institution that would bridge the gap between classical education and modern industrial needs.

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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.