Are you looking for the abbreviation for foundation? Surprisingly, there are multiple ways to abbreviate the word in the English language. We’re going to cover them all.
In this guide, we’re going to explain the different abbreviations for this word, the definition, the history, and other things you need to know about the word foundation.
Let’s dive into those abbreviations, shall we?
There are three different abbreviations for the word foundation.
Fdn.
Fndn.
Fou.
All of these abbreviations can be used interchangeably. In most cases, they should be punctuated with a period in order to be grammatically correct. As with most abbreviations, these should be used for titles, headlines, notes, edits, or situations where brevity and space are of concern. These abbreviations should not be used in standard or formal texts. In most cases, one will find these abbreviations in site plans, as well as other architectural documents and diagrams.
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
Dictionary.com lists the following as definitions for the word foundation.
Foundation [ foun-dey-shuhn ]
noun
1. the basis or groundwork of anything.
2. the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.
3. the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.
4. the act of founding, setting up, establishing, etc.
5. the state of being founded.
6. an institution financed by a donation or legacy to aid research, education, the arts, etc.
7. an endowment for such an institution.
8. a cosmetic, as a cream or liquid, used as a base for facial makeup.
9. foundation garment.
10. Solitaire. a card of given denomination on which other cards are to be added according to denomination or suit.
Synonyms for Foundation
● authority
● base
● bedrock
● groundwork
● infrastructure
● support
● ABCs
● basics
● bed
● bottom
● foot
● footing
● ground
● guts
● heart
● justification
● nitty-gritty
● nub
● prop
● reason
● root
● stay
● substratum
● substructure
● understructure
● bottom line
● brass tacks
● nuts and bolts
● underpinning
The History of the Word
Foundation originated as a late fourteenth-century word, meaning “the action of foundation.” This is derived from the Old French word fondacion from the fourteenth century, and it also has roots in the Late Latin word fundationem (the nominative would be fundatio), which means “a founding.” Some specialized senses of the word, including “an establishment of an institution that supports it” or “the physical building blocks of a structure,” also emerged in the late fourteenth century. Another meaning, “that which is founded,” such as a university or hospital, comes from the early 1500’s. During the same time period, another meaning developed—“funds endowed for benevolence or charity.”
When to Use the Abbreviation
All three of the abbreviations for foundation should be used whenever space is an issue, such as within a brief document or within the margin of an essay for editing purposes. These abbreviations are commonly found in site plans, building diagrams, and other architectural documents to denote where the foundation of the structure will be. It should never be used in general prose—the full word should be used in that case.
Examples of the Word and Abbreviation in Context
Common abbreviations of foundation include “fdn.” and “fndn.” The abbreviation “fou.” is also sometimes used.
The foundation of the United States government has always been integrity and freedom.
We’ll finish the fdn., then place the cornerstones.
We define foundation as, “the supporting building blocks that a building or structure is built upon.”
My eyes darted back and forth, trying to memorize all of the names on the many business cards in front of me. One said, “Director Joan Farnsworth, Live Well Fndn.” I remembered her foundation well; I’d made a sizeable donation last year.
To me, the simple donut is the foundation of a top-tier breakfast—a donut, a cup of hot coffee with cream and sugar, scrambled eggs, and toast.
Note 5—Fndn. of para. 2 makes no sense. Please revise.
What is the foundation of family life in American society?
As I pulled up to the building site, I immediately noticed something different. All of the concrete for the bottom slab of the structure had been poured, and the contractors had already built the skeleton of wood paneling. Finally, the foundation was complete.
She used too much foundation on her face. As a result, she looked orange in the lamplight.
Note: Inform maint. team of an issue with the bldg. fndn. Problem is worst in the ctr. of the exec. suite. Need to distrib. the budget differently to corr. the error.
In the construction industry, abbreviations are commonly used, e.g., exch, econ, gov, dep, merch, publ, telecomm, constr, adm.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
