noun

bedrock

BEHD-rok

noun

The solid layer of rock beneath the soil and loose material on the earth's surface.

"The foundation had to be drilled straight into the bedrock."

The fundamental principle or basis on which something is built.

"Trust is the bedrock of any good relationship."

"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy."

How to Use Bedrock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the solid rock deep underground, or — more commonly in everyday speech — the core foundation something is built on.

Common pairings

bedrock principle bedrock of the economy solid bedrock

bedrocked past tense, bedrocks plural, bedrocks singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The foundation had to be drilled straight into the _____.

From "bed" (a foundational layer) plus "rock."