elemental

1 of 2

adjective

el·​e·​men·​tal ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or being an element
specifically : existing as an uncombined chemical element
b(1)
: of, relating to, or being the basic or essential constituent of something : fundamental
elemental biological needs
(2)
: simple, uncomplicated
elemental food
c
: of, relating to, or dealing with the rudiments of something : elementary
taught elemental crafts to the children
d
: forming an integral part : inherent
an elemental sense of rhythm
2
: of, relating to, or resembling a great force of nature
the rains come with elemental violence
elemental passions
elementally adverb

elemental

2 of 2

noun

plural elementals
1
: a supernatural being : spirit
"It's a heritage. My mother was a witch and her mother was a witch. My specialty is (prophetic) dreaming. We believe elementals do exist," said Lady L …D. L. Stephenson
2
: an elementary part or principle
usually plural
All objects consist of smaller objects. … Lamps, bicycles, and houses are compound objects made of constituent parts, or elementals.Alan L. Laity
These two epistemologies exist in distinct dimensions: science struggles to discover the elementals of our material existence through empiricism, and theology strives to describe the universality of our … existence through faith.Jack Hitt

Examples of elemental in a Sentence

Adjective an elemental difference between the two Their elemental passion led to tragedy. the elemental power of the storm an elemental analysis of the solution
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
To experimentally test the possibility of post-death contamination, the researchers have now buried fresh animal bones with cinnabar and will measure their elemental makeup in the future. Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 In the series, the 12-year-old boy ran away from home and was frozen for 100 years, during which time the fire nation of the show’s universe eradicated the airbenders and began warring with the remaining two elemental nations. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 One thing to note is that the amount of elemental iron varies among the different forms of iron. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 If broken apart into its elemental components — hydrogen and oxygen — the water could also become future propellants for rockets. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 There are also five elemental signs to further determine your zodiac (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2024 The styling showed a put-togetherness that feels accessible—even elemental. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2024 Global warming is an elemental threat to life on Earth, and ignoring it as its deniers advocate is a recipe for extinction. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 The company disclosed the new funds in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Feb. 9, a day after winning a research grant from a U.S. Energy Department program to refine methods to stimulate underground hydrogen production and extract the elemental fuel. Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
Noun
In the final measures of the third piece, four-note chords jangle against the elemental fifth of C and G, each giving off a smoky, sassy vibe. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 On this mind-altering trip, the women may have liaised with deities and divined their society’s future—unaware that the powder’s potency came from its main elemental component: the toxic metal mercury. Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 For example, ferrous sulfate contains only 20% elemental iron, whereas ferrous fumarate contains 33%. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 Cohn creates her elemental and elegant jewels by working directly with wax to create the molds, rather than sketching out designs. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Prieto’s calm demeanor and his commitment to getting the work done, no matter the elemental hurdles, left Scorsese speechless. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024 These new Fae bore elemental magic, strong enough to make Pelias wary of them. Megan McCluskey, TIME, 2 Feb. 2024 To generations of musical aficionados, Ms. Rivera was a whirling, bounding, high-kicking elemental force of the dance; a seductive singer of smoky ballads and sizzling jazz; and a propulsive actress of vaudevillian energy. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 Actually bringing these characters to life with the appropriate elemental bending was the challenge. EW.com, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elemental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near elemental

Cite this Entry

“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elemental

adjective
el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or being an element
especially : existing as an uncombined chemical element
2
: of, relating to, or resembling a force of nature
elementally adverb

Medical Definition

elemental

adjective
el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
: of, relating to, or being an element
specifically : existing as an uncombined chemical element

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