Hello and welcome back to Daily English! Today’s word is cornerstone. Let’s see if you can guess what it means from some examples.
Many people say education is the cornerstone of society—without it, a country can’t grow.
In business, trust is often called the cornerstone of a strong relationship with customers.
For a healthy life, exercise and good nutrition are the cornerstone of well-being.
A cornerstone is the most important part or foundation of something. Just like in old buildings where the first stone, the cornerstone, supports the whole structure, in ideas or life, the cornerstone is the essential thing everything else depends on.
More Examples: Honesty is the cornerstone of a good friendship. Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy.
Kindness can be the cornerstone of raising happy children.
In architecture, the cornerstone is literally the first stone placed in the foundation of a building. Everything else is built around it. That’s why the word became a metaphor for the most important part of any system.
Personal Reflection Question: So, what do you think? What is the cornerstone of your own life right now? Is it family, education, faith, career, or maybe your health?