fondés

Fondés is the masculine plural past participle of the French verb fonder. When used as an adjective, it means “founded” or “established” and agrees with the noun it modifies: fondé (masc. sing.), fondée (fem. sing.), fondés (masc. pl.), fondées (fem. pl.).

Usage: it describes institutions, settlements, companies, or ideas that have been created or established. Examples: des établissements fondés au XIIIe siècle; une entreprise fondée en 1998. In the passé composé with the auxiliary être, the form is ont été fondés. With the auxiliary avoir, the participle agrees only when the direct object precedes it: l’entreprise qu’ils ont fondée (fem. sing.).

Fondés is also used in expressions such as fondés sur meaning “based on” or “grounded in.” Etymology: fonder comes from Latin fundare “to found,” ultimately from fundus meaning “base” or “bottom.” The noun fondation denotes the act or result of founding, while fondement refers to a basis or foundation.

See also: fondation, fondement, fonder.