fundamentally

adverb

fun·​da·​men·​tal·​ly ˌfən-də-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

: with regard to what is basic, essential, or fundamental : at a fundamental level

a fundamentally honest person

a fundamentally new/different approach

Most theories of the internal structure of Venus begin with the assumption that the planet is fundamentally similar to the earth …

—Andrew and Louise Young

: in a basic or fundamental manner

This "disposable" work force is the most important trend in business today, and it is fundamentally changing the relationship between Americans and their jobs.

—Janice Castro

Examples of fundamentally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Relying on impressive-sounding but fundamentally meaningless stats is a great strategy that will definitely work. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026

Trust is fundamentally relational and dynamic. —Monica L. Wang, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026

Through this comparative method, Dara Shikoh advances the view that the two traditions express fundamentally equivalent spiritual truths. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026

Trump has such a different view, and, in that sense, is so fundamentally not a conservative and not somebody who believes in that conception of limited government. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fundamentally

• accidentally
• detrimentally
• governmentally
• incidentally
• incrementally
• instrumentally
• sentimentally
• temperamentally
• coincidentally
• environmentally
• experimentally
• mentally