founder

Word parts

found + -er

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈfaʊndɚ/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈfaʊndə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: found‧er

Noun

Singular founder

Plural founders

1. (countable) A person who founds and establishes; a person who lays a foundation; an author; a person who starts something.
2. (countable) An iron worker who runs a blast furnace and the smelting process.

Verb

Plain form founder

Third-person singular founders

Past tense foundered

Past participle foundered

Present participle foundering

1. To fill something with water and sink it.
2. To fall or stumble.
3. To fail; to miscarry.

Usage notes

• Founder is often confused with flounder. Both words may be used in the same situation. A person who is floundering (struggling to keep his place), may then later founder (fall or fail).