elementary
adjective
el·e·men·ta·ry
ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tə-rē 
-ˈmen-trē
1
a
: of, relating to, or dealing with the simplest elements or principles of something
b
: of or relating to an elementary school
Examples of elementary in a Sentence
He is lacking even the most elementary notions of fairness.
The researchers made an elementary error.
He has an elementary understanding of calculus.
Recent Examples on the Web
In experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, physicists smash together beams of protons, breaking them up into all possible elementary bits and pieces.
—
Quanta Magazine, 15 June 2026
In recent years, however, the number of students that needed to take the class exploded—from 32 in 2020 to 665 in 2025—and deficiencies have become so bad that the course had to be redesigned to cover middle school and even elementary level skills.
—Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Amid a national push to reduce screen time in schools, elementary and middle school students report less of their free time is spent reading.
—Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 10 June 2026
Indeed, the 13-year-olds who took the national test experienced the pandemic's disruption during formative elementary years of schooling.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
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Quanta Magazine, 15 June 2026
In recent years, however, the number of students that needed to take the class exploded—from 32 in 2020 to 665 in 2025—and deficiencies have become so bad that the course had to be redesigned to cover middle school and even elementary level skills.
—Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Amid a national push to reduce screen time in schools, elementary and middle school students report less of their free time is spent reading.
—Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 10 June 2026
Indeed, the 13-year-olds who took the national test experienced the pandemic's disruption during formative elementary years of schooling.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Cite this Entry
“Elementary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elementary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elementary
adjective
el·e·men·ta·ry
ˌel-ə-ˈment-ə-rē
-ˈmen-trē
1
: of or relating to the simplest principles of a subject
2
: of, relating to, or teaching the basic subjects of education
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