founder

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "founder" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person who starts or establishes something, such as an organization or company. For example, "John is the founder of the non-profit organization dedicated to providing food for those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Several hundred supporters chanted for Erdoğan, the party's founder, but there was little sign of the huge crowds that gathered after past election victories.

The Guardian

Worth 8m kronor each, the Nobel prizes are always handed out on 10 December, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.

The Guardian

Ian started his career as a founder of one of the first web agencies in the UK, Wax New Media.

The Guardian

Problem: In 2003, Zane Wilson, the founder of the South African Depression & Anxiety Group (Sadag), the country's largest mental health initiative, was horrified at how suicide rates among young South Africans were spiking.

The Guardian

breadahead.com SM A key text for beer lovers, co-written by Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, founder of the revered Copenhagen microbrewery of the same name.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The facility was even unknown to Rob Warden, the founder of Northwestern University Law School's Center on Wrongful Convictions, until the Guardian informed him of the allegations of clients who vanish into inherently coercive police custody.

The Guardian

A boat full of migrants each paying as much as $1,000 can rake in $250,000, easily enough to write off the cost of the boat should it founder.

The Guardian

Luxury breaks offering great food and smart hotels are being created by firms such as Fusion Escapes, a three-year-old specialist operator which founder, Rachel Harvey, says was launched "to fill the gaping hole in the travel market for single professionals used to the finer things in life".

The Guardian - Travel

"In the past few years, Mr Rafsanjani has always talked about a letter he wrote in 1988 to Imam [Ruhollah] Khomeini [supreme leader until his death in 1989] in which he beseeched the founder of the Islamic Revolution to solve the problem of Iran's relations with the US during his lifetime, arguing that no one else would be able to do so after his death.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The charity's co-founder, David Coles, says that bringing in overseas volunteers for a six-week project, for example, can be hugely beneficial in terms of sharing skills and exchanging ideas.

The Guardian

He first expressed an interest in replacing her with one Tory donor, Theodore Agnew, and more recently with another, Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross – who had had a past brush with financial scandal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the "founder" of an organization, consider including their full name and the year the organization was established for clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid mistakenly identifying someone as the "founder" if they joined the organization after its initial establishment. Verify their role and contribution to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The word "founder" functions primarily as a noun, identifying an individual who establishes or originates something, such as a company, organization, or movement. This is supported by Ludwig's examples showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Travel

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "founder" is a common and generally neutral term used to describe the individual or individuals who establish an organization, company, or movement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used in English. It appears most frequently in news and media, business contexts, and science publications. When using the term "founder", it is essential to accurately attribute the role and provide context for the organization or entity established. Consider alternatives such as "originator", "creator", or "establishing figure" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

originator

Focuses on the act of bringing something into being, emphasizing the initial creation.

initiator

Highlights the act of starting or setting something in motion.

creator

Emphasizes the act of creation, often implying artistic or intellectual effort.

establishing figure

Highlights the role in setting up or solidifying an organization or institution.

architect

Implies a careful and deliberate design in the creation process.

father

Uses a familiar metaphor to represent someone who established something.

pioneer

Suggests someone who is among the first to explore or develop something.

innovator

Emphasizes the introduction of new ideas or methods.

developer

Focuses on the gradual growth and advancement of something.

instigator

Implies someone who provokes or urges forward a project or movement.

FAQs

How to use "founder" in a sentence?

Use "founder" to describe the person who establishes an organization, company, or movement. For example, "Steve Jobs was the "co-founder" of Apple Inc."

What can I say instead of "founder"?

You can use alternatives like "originator", "creator", or "establishing figure" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "founder" and "co-founder"?

"Founder" refers to the individual who initially establishes something, while "co-founder" refers to one of multiple individuals who jointly establish something.

Which is correct, "founder of the company" or "the company's founder"?

Both "founder of the company" and "the company's founder" are correct. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and sentence structure.