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
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
As couture continues to be a cornerstone in the fashion conversation, the fall 2024 season displayed its power on another level, as Paris is gearing up to be the center of the world, again, with the upcoming Olympic Games.
—
Emily Mercer, WWD, 2 July 2024
Acquired in a sign-and-trade with Winnipeg, where Dubois spent the previous three years but didn’t intend to stay, Dubois was set to be a cornerstone for the Kings for the foreseeable future.
—Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
Morgan's exclusion will surely come as a shock to many, given she's been both a cornerstone of the USWNT and one of the world's best players for more than a decade.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024
Rural revitalization, a concept introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2017, has become a cornerstone of his national development policy to mitigate income inequality, stimulate local economies and guarantee the food supply.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for cornerstone 
Emily Mercer, WWD, 2 July 2024
Acquired in a sign-and-trade with Winnipeg, where Dubois spent the previous three years but didn’t intend to stay, Dubois was set to be a cornerstone for the Kings for the foreseeable future.
—Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
Morgan's exclusion will surely come as a shock to many, given she's been both a cornerstone of the USWNT and one of the world's best players for more than a decade.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024
Rural revitalization, a concept introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2017, has become a cornerstone of his national development policy to mitigate income inequality, stimulate local economies and guarantee the food supply.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for cornerstone
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cornerstone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cornerstone
Cite this Entry
“Cornerstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornerstone. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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