fundamental

1 of 2

adjective

fun·​da·​men·​tal ˌfən-də-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

a

: serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function : basic

Responsibility is fundamental to democracy.

The Constitution ensures our fundamental rights.

b

: serving as an original or generating source : primary

a discovery fundamental to modern computers

2

a

: of or relating to essential structure, function, or facts : radical

fundamental change

also : of or dealing with general principles rather than practical application

fundamental science

b

: adhering to fundamentalism

a preacher who is evangelical, Bible-teaching, and fundamental

3

: of central importance : principal

fundamental purpose

such fundamental events as birth, marriage, and death

4

: belonging to one's innate or ingrained characteristics : deep-rooted

her fundamental good humor

5

: of, relating to, or produced by the lowest component of a complex vibration (see vibration sense 1)

fundamental

2 of 2

noun

1

: something fundamental

especially : one of the minimum constituents without which a thing or a system would not be what it is

2

a

: the principal musical tone produced by vibration (as of a string or column of air) on which a series of higher harmonics is based

b

: the root of a chord

3

: the harmonic component of a complex wave that has the lowest frequency and commonly the greatest amplitude

Synonyms

Adjective

• abecedarian
• basal
• basic
• beginning
• elemental
• elementary
• essential
• introductory
• meat-and-potatoes
• rudimental
• rudimentary
• underlying

Noun

• ABC(s)
• alphabet
• basics
• elements
• essentials
• grammar
• principles
• rudiments

Choose the Right Synonym for fundamental

essential, fundamental, vital, cardinal mean so important as to be indispensable.

essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

Examples of fundamental in a Sentence

Adjective

The Constitution ensures our fundamental rights.

There's a fundamental difference between these two political parties.

These ideas are of fundamental importance.

The revolution brought about a fundamental change in the country.

We need to make some fundamental changes in the way we do business.

We need to address these problems on a more fundamental level.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But at a fundamental level, the episode is also a debate over what exactly transpired. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2023

While the technology industry is working to deliver quantum advantage in products and services in the near term, academic research remains focused on investigating the fundamental principles underpinning this new science and technology. —Daniel Lidar, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2023

And while sinks are a fundamental bath fixture, vessels offer opportunities for adding color and design elements to the space. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023

Israelis are united as rarely before on a fundamental belief: Any conclusion to the war that leaves Hamas in charge of Gaza would be intolerable. —William A. Galston, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023

My dad’s murder was as fundamental and as unknowable as my own birth. —Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023

Managing disagreements Both sides acknowledged that China and the U.S. have fundamental differences, including their approaches to Taiwan, a top priority issue for Beijing. —Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Nov. 2023

Still, the movie may well send audiences back to their history books for an explanation of something so fundamental as why the French dictator is warmongering at all. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023

That push could change the way WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Threads interact in even more fundamental ways. —David Pierce, The Verge, 14 Nov. 2023

Noun

Immerse yourself in courses on AI fundamentals and applications. —William Arruda, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

Reflecting on the dissonance between many of the economy’s fundamentals and consumers’ sour outlook, Richardson was circumspect. —Christine Romans, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023

Jim Schweitzer Brea :: Lincoln Riley’s teams at USC lack toughness and discipline, struggle with fundamentals, and fail to execute in all three phases. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2023

Still, Musk’s wealth is up by more than $70 billion in 2023 alongside a rebound in Tesla shares despite the deteriorating fundamentals. —Jordan Fitzgerald, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023

Still, there are many fundamentals startups might follow to make a product update as smooth as possible. —Christian Wiklund, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Most of them turn on big fundamentals of economics and people's sense of the world. —Robert Costa, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2023

But current refining methods, which extract useful metals from dirt, depend on fundamentals like gravity, Lange says. —WIRED, 20 Oct. 2023

The Sox, who were seemingly in the playoff hunt until they were swept by the Astros at Fenway at the end of last month, have some talent but lack fundamentals. —Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin fundāmentālis "serving as a foundation," from Latin fundāmentum "foundation, basis" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at fundament

Noun

derivative of fundamental entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fundamental

• fundamental group
• fundamental particle
• fundamental law

• fundamental group
• fundamental particle
• fundamental law

Kids Definition

fundamental

1 of 2 adjective

fun·​da·​men·​tal ˌfən-də-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

: being or forming a foundation : basic, essential

a discovery fundamental to modern science

our fundamental rights

2

: of or relating to essential structure or function : radical

fundamental change

3

: of, relating to, or produced by the lowest part of a complex vibration

4

: of central importance : principal

fundamental purpose

fundamentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

fundamental

2 of 2 noun

1

: something fundamental : a basic part

fundamentals of arithmetic

2

: the part of a complex wave that has the lowest frequency and commonly the greatest amplitude

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English fundamental "serving as a base or source of support," from Latin fundamentalis "of a foundation," from fundamentum "foundation," derived from fundus "bottom, base" — related to found entry 2, fund

Medical Definition

fundamental

noun

fun·​da·​men·​tal ˌfən-də-ˈment-ᵊl 

: the principal musical tone produced by vibration (as of a string or column of air) on which a series of higher overtones is based