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
At Nashoba Public School, in a rural part of southeast Oklahoma where there’s little else but timber and twisting roads, the roughly 50 kids who make up the elementary and middle grades are taught in split-grade classrooms.
—
Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
After more or less abandoning philosophy at the end of the First World War, Ludwig trained to be an elementary-school teacher, spent time as a gardener’s assistant in a monastery, and then taught in small towns in rural Austria.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Inside the band's lore After moving to Nashville in 2011 to attend Vanderbilt University, Tramel taught at elementary, middle and high schools and in robotics programs.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Yes, my two sons attend Milford Schools at the elementary and high school level.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elementary
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Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
After more or less abandoning philosophy at the end of the First World War, Ludwig trained to be an elementary-school teacher, spent time as a gardener’s assistant in a monastery, and then taught in small towns in rural Austria.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Inside the band's lore After moving to Nashville in 2011 to attend Vanderbilt University, Tramel taught at elementary, middle and high schools and in robotics programs.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Yes, my two sons attend Milford Schools at the elementary and high school level.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Cite this Entry
“Elementary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elementary. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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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