Meaning & use
underpinning
Last updated
A support or foundation for something, especially an idea, argument, or structure.
See it in a sentence
Trust forms the underpinning of any successful partnership.
Engineers reinforced the underpinning of the old bridge before reopening it.
A note on using this word
Underpinning is used both literally, for structural support beneath a building, and figuratively, for the basic principles supporting an idea or system.
Words with a similar meaning
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