adj
Common
founded
FOWN-dihd
Founded (adj) means having a solid basis or justification. Example: “Her concerns turned out to be well founded.”
adj
1
Having a solid basis or justification.
"Her concerns turned out to be well founded."
"She offered a well-founded hypothesis."
"His fears were well founded, as the bridge was indeed unsafe."
"The rumour was not founded on any real evidence, so nobody believed it."
verb
1
Past tense of "found" — established or set up.
"The charity was founded in 1985."
"Her grandfather founded a small bakery that is still open today."
"The village school was founded by local families who wanted better lessons for their children."
How to use founded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither set up/established, or, as an adjective, backed by good reason.
Common pairings
well founded
founded on evidence
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more founded
- Superlative
- most founded
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Her concerns turned out to be well _____.
Related words
Rhymes for founded
funded
pounded
wounded
rounded
bounded
grounded
astounded
unfounded
confounded
compounded
dumbfounded
See all rhymes for founded →
Frequently asked questions
What does “founded” mean?
The word “founded” means having a solid basis or justification. In plain terms, either set up/established, or, as an adjective, backed by good reason.
How do you pronounce “founded”?
“Founded” is pronounced FOWN-dihd (/ˈfaʊndɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “founded” in a sentence?
Here is “founded” used in a sentence: “Her concerns turned out to be well founded.”
What part of speech is “founded”?
Depending on how it is used, “founded” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “founded” a common word?
“Founded” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “founded” have?
“Founded” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a solid basis or justification.
What is the difference between 'founded' and 'unfounded'?
They are opposites. Something 'founded' rests on solid evidence or good reason, so a well-founded concern is one backed by facts. 'Unfounded' means the opposite: a claim or fear with no real basis, not supported by evidence. Calling a rumour unfounded says it has nothing genuine to stand on.
What is an example of 'founded' used this way?
It usually appears with 'on' or 'upon': 'an argument founded on solid research,' 'a reputation founded on trust,' or 'fears founded in real experience.' In each case the word signals that the thing has a firm, justifiable base rather than resting on guesswork, opinion, or hearsay.
Does 'founded' always mean 'established'?
Not in this sense. 'Founded' can mean set up or established, as in 'the company was founded in 1900,' but here it means having a solid basis, as in 'well-founded' or 'founded on evidence.' The two senses share a root idea of a foundation, and context shows which is meant.
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