# founding

/ˈfaʊndɪŋ/ (US) · /fˈaʊndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/founding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. establishment

noun · CEFR B2

the act of starting a new organization, company, or city.

For teachers: the act of establishing or initiating an institution, organization, or settlement.

- The city celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding last summer.
- The founding of the university was made possible by a generous endowment from a local philanthropist who valued public education.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 3. original or starting

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a person or thing that starts an organization.

For teachers: denoting a person or entity that establishes or originates something; often used in compound titles.

- He was a founding member of the local hiking club.
- The founding principles of the constitution were debated extensively by the delegates during the summer of 1787.

### 4. metal casting

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the process of melting metal and pouring it into a mold.

For teachers: the industrial process of melting and casting metal; also refers to the work done in a foundry.

- The factory specialized in the founding of large iron engine parts.
- Advances in precision founding allowed for the creation of complex aerospace components that were previously impossible to manufacture.

## Examples

- The museum is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its founding.
- The founding of the university in 1850 changed the town from a small village into a center for learning.
- Historians often debate whether the founding of the republic was a sudden revolutionary act or the culmination of decades of slow social change.

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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.