fundamentally

adverb

fun·​da·​men·​tal·​ly ˌfən-də-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce fundamentally (audio)
: 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

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Competitive Landscape: The New Rules of Engagement The AI talent market now operates under fundamentally different rules than the broader tech industry. Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Unfortunately, that’s not the case here; this bill is fundamentally a re-orientation of the federal government and a change to the social compact that did much to generate American prosperity from the aftermath of the Great Depression through today. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025 Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless. Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera. Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025 Should the ultimate turning point occur—if the Iranian regime were to collapse and be replaced by a fundamentally different leadership—Iran itself could reenter the regional stage, not as a spoiler, but as a potential partner in a new, post-theocratic era. Tim Ryan, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fundamentally

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fundamentally was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Fundamentally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundamentally. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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