noun
Common
founder
FOWN-duh
Founder (noun) means a person who establishes an organization, company, or institution. Example: “The founder of the company still runs it today.”
noun
1
A person who establishes an organization, company, or institution.
"The founder of the company still runs it today."
"As the founder of the local choir, she still picks every song they sing."
"The statue in the square honours the town's founder."
verb
1
To fail or fall apart, especially of a plan, negotiation, or ship.
"The talks foundered after both sides refused to compromise."
"The old ship foundered in a storm off the coast."
"Their business foundered within a year because nobody wanted to buy what they made."
How to use founder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who starts an organization, or as a verb, to sink or collapse into failure.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb "founder" (to fail/sink) with "flounder" (to struggle clumsily) — they're easy to mix up but have separate origins.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
co-founder
founder of the company
negotiations foundered
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Word forms
- Plural
- founders
- Third person singular
- founders
- Past tense
- foundered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the company still runs it today.
Etymology
From Old French fondeur, from Latin fundator — related to "found" in the sense of "establish."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for founder
See all rhymes for founder →Frequently asked questions
What does “founder” mean?
The word “founder” means a person who establishes an organization, company, or institution. In plain terms, someone who starts an organization, or as a verb, to sink or collapse into failure.
How do you pronounce “founder”?
“Founder” is pronounced FOWN-duh (/ˈfaʊ̯n.dɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “founder” in a sentence?
Here is “founder” used in a sentence: “The founder of the company still runs it today.”
What part of speech is “founder”?
Depending on how it is used, “founder” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “founder” come from?
The word “founder” comes from Latin. From Old French fondeur, from Latin fundator — related to "found" in the sense of "establish.".
Is “founder” a common word?
“Founder” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “founder” have?
“Founder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who establishes an organization, company, or institution.
What is the difference between founder and flounder?
This is a classic mix-up. A founder is someone who establishes an organisation; as a verb, to founder means to fail or sink, as a ship founders. To flounder is different, meaning to struggle clumsily or thrash about, like a flounder, the flatfish. A business can flounder for years before it founders.
What is the difference between a founder and a co-founder?
A founder is a person who establishes an organisation, whether alone or as its driving force. A co-founder is one of two or more people who start it together, sharing that role. If a single person launches a company they are the founder; if several do it jointly, each is a co-founder.
What is the difference between a founder and a CEO?
A founder is the person who created the company, a fact that never changes. A CEO is whoever currently runs it as chief executive. Often the founder is also the first CEO, but a company can later hire an outside CEO while the founder stays on, steps back, or moves aside entirely.
What is an example of a founder?
A founder is the person behind an organisation's beginning, the individual who set up a charity, launched a start-up, or established a school or institution. For instance, the person who starts a bakery and builds it from nothing is its founder, credited with bringing the whole enterprise into being.
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