podstawa

Podstawa is a Polish noun that denotes what something is built on or relies upon. It describes a foundation, basis, or ground for a structure, argument, system, or process. The term carries both concrete and abstract senses and is closely related to the words fundament and baza.

In everyday language, podstawa can refer to the physical foundation of a building or object, such as the base that supports a structure or a stand that holds an item upright. In a broader sense, it denotes the underlying principle or justification of something, for example a rule, rule of law, or the rationale behind a claim. Common phrases include podstawa prawna (legal basis) and na podstawie (based on), which is used to indicate supporting evidence or source material.

In mathematics and science, podstawa appears in more technical meanings. It is used to denote the base of a numeral system (podstawa systemu liczbowego), such as base 10 or base 2, and to refer to the base of a logarithm (podstawa logarytmu) or the base of an exponent (podstawa potęgi). In linguistics and language studies, podstawa can describe a word’s stem or its dictionary form, the root upon which derivatives are built, though more specific terms like rdzeń or forma podstawowa are also used.

The word is versatile and often contrasts with synonyms like fundament or baza, with podstawa emphasizing a foundational role, justification, or basis of support rather than merely a starting point.