el·e·men·tal
ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl
1
a
: of, relating to, or being an element
specifically
: existing as an uncombined chemical element
b(1)
: of, relating to, or being the basic or essential constituent of something : fundamental
elemental biological needs
(2)
: simple, uncomplicated
elemental food
c
: of, relating to, or dealing with the rudiments of something : elementary
taught elemental crafts to the children
d
: forming an integral part : inherent
an elemental sense of rhythm
2
: of, relating to, or resembling a great force of nature
the rains come with elemental violence
elemental passions
plural elementals
1
: a supernatural being : spirit
"It's a heritage. My mother was a witch and her mother was a witch. My specialty is (prophetic) dreaming. We believe elementals do exist," said Lady L …—D. L. Stephenson
2
: an elementary part or principle
—usually plural
All objects consist of smaller objects. … Lamps, bicycles, and houses are compound objects made of constituent parts, or elementals.—Alan L. Laity
These two epistemologies exist in distinct dimensions: science struggles to discover the elementals of our material existence through empiricism, and theology strives to describe the universality of our … existence through faith.—Jack Hitt
Cite this Entry
“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.
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