1 bedrock | Definition of bedrock

bedrock

noun
bed·​rock | \ ˈbed-ˈrĂ€k How to pronounce bedrock (audio) , -ˌrĂ€k\

Definition of bedrock

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the solid rock underlying unconsolidated surface materials (such as soil)
2a : lowest point
b : basis

bedrock

adjective
bed·​rock | \ ˈbed-ˌrĂ€k How to pronounce bedrock (audio) \

Definition of bedrock (Entry 2 of 2)

: solidly fundamental, basic, or reliable traditional bedrock values a bedrock constituency

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Examples of bedrock in a Sentence

Noun

They dug down for 10 feet before they hit bedrock. His religious beliefs are the bedrock on which his life is based.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The bedrock of choice is having good options to choose from. — Courtney Hamilton Knight, Glamour, "We Have the Same Birth Control Options as Our Grandmothers. We Need a Better Plan A.," 26 Aug. 2019 The Ravens knew that the bedrock of their team, the defense, was solid before Thursday night’s game. — Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "Instant analysis from the Ravens’ 26-15, weather-shortened preseason win over the Eagles," 23 Aug. 2019 For decades, Israel has maintained staunch bipartisan support in Washington, saying that warm relations with both parties is the bedrock of the relationship with its closest ally. — Washington Post, "As Trump questions loyalty of US Jews, Israeli PM is quiet," 23 Aug. 2019 The bedrock of Israel’s security doctrine is its close ties with the United States, sustained through bipartisan support. — Michael J. Koplow, The New Republic, "Israel’s Decision to Ban U.S. Congresswomen Is Self-Defeating," 15 Aug. 2019 Peaceful protest is a bedrock of our society and Rapinoe is doing nothing that detracts from her teammates or anyone else. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Criticism of what Megan Rapinoe does during national anthem is tired," 24 June 2019 Custom railing wraps around the deck that was installed with structural support down to bedrock. — Monica Lander, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: Energy-efficient Berkeley contemporary with bay and city views," 6 Aug. 2019 Its prime object of satire, however, is the very bedrock of the workshop’s pedagogy, the identification of artistic achievement. — Hermione Hoby, The New Yorker, "What Does It Mean to Be a “Real” Writer?," 3 July 2019 The backlash against the party currently occupying the White House is one of the bedrocks of American politics. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Jim Renacci wins Republican nomination in Ohio Senate race," 9 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

In fact, Profs. Fama and French found that the same goes for an even more bedrock belief of stock-market investors: the notion that equities will outperform riskless T-bills for those who hold them long enough. — Mark Hulbert, WSJ, "Your Fund Performance Is Even More About Luck Than You Thought," 4 Nov. 2018 The President has broad pardon power in the Constitution, but the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel determined in 1974 that a self-pardon would run afoul of bedrock legal principle. — Tessa Berenson, Time, "Donald Trump’s Campaign to Discredit the Russia Investigation May Be Working. It’s Also Damaging American Democracy," 7 June 2018 The Beneficial renovation is both a shrine to one of democracy’s bedrock values, trial by jury — and to Kline’s career. — Inga Saffron, Philly.com, "How a Philadelphia lawyer turned a historic bank into a shrine to democracy (and his legal career)," 3 June 2018 One of President Trump’s most bedrock character traits is his refusal to truly reckon with any piece of information that reflects poorly on him. — Benjamin Hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Reality Distortion Field Could be a Huge Asset for Democrats This Fall," 28 Apr. 2018 Ryan is willfully enabling Devin Nunes' and President Trump's blatant attempts to obstruct justice and undermine two bedrock foundations of American democracy -the FBI and Department of Justice. — Jeff Darcy, cleveland.com, "Nunes Memo is a not-so-super bowl of partisan botulism: Darcy cartoon," 4 Feb. 2018 On the most bedrock level, Ammons was a nature poet. — Dwight Garner, New York Times, "Adding Up a Prolific Poet’s Charming Weather Reports," 11 Dec. 2017 The case sparked ferocious debate over his actions and the controversial prisoner exchange that led to his release in 2014, challenging the military's bedrock principle of never leaving a soldier behind. — Alex Horton, Alaska Dispatch News, "Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl avoids prison time for desertion during deployment in Afghanistan," 3 Nov. 2017 Bergdahl's case sparked ferocious debate over his actions and the controversial prisoner exchange that led to his release in 2014, challenging the military's bedrock principle of never leaving a soldier behind. — The Washington Post, cleveland.com, "Bowe Bergdahl, former hostage who pleaded guilty to desertion, avoids prison," 3 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bedrock.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bedrock

Noun

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1873, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for bedrock

bedrock

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bedrock

: the solid rock that lies under the surface of the ground
: a strong idea, principle, or fact that supports something

bedrock

noun
bed·​rock | \ ˈbed-ˌrĂ€k How to pronounce bedrock (audio) \

Kids Definition of bedrock

: the solid rock found under surface materials (as soil)

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