rudiment
noun
ru·di·ment
ˈrü-də-mənt 
1
: a basic principle or element or a fundamental skill
—usually used in plural
teaching themselves the rudiments of rational government—
G. B. Galanti
G. B. Galanti
Synonyms
Examples of rudiment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Stokes came on this tour, it was said, to learn the rudiments of Test cricket, to be around the dressing room.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Shaffer had seen in Pushkin’s playlet the rudiments of a grand spectacle, framed, like so many of his plays, as a duel between two men of different generations.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
For every advanced community that learned the rudiments of rhythm and music, there must have been someone humming Barry Manilow.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
That is one of the most essential rudiments to successful fly casting.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2023
Last year, for example, Hanna and colleagues grew such cells into embryo mimics that sported a beating heart, the rudiments of a brain and spinal cord, and incipient muscles.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 17 June 2023
In childhood, cognition centers on the acquisition of language and the rudiments of abstract reasoning, while emotional skills such as self-regulation and empathy are still taking root.
—Andrew Serazin, Time, 14 June 2023
By its conclusion, someone will likely have developed the rudiments of emotion, segueing directly into Origins, a civilization game unlike any other.
—Dan Thurot, Ars Technica, 25 Apr. 2020
Two uncles, Pete and Bobby Domenick, played guitar and banjo professionally, and his uncle Bobby taught him some musical rudiments.
—Peter Keepnews, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Shaffer had seen in Pushkin’s playlet the rudiments of a grand spectacle, framed, like so many of his plays, as a duel between two men of different generations.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
For every advanced community that learned the rudiments of rhythm and music, there must have been someone humming Barry Manilow.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
That is one of the most essential rudiments to successful fly casting.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2023
Last year, for example, Hanna and colleagues grew such cells into embryo mimics that sported a beating heart, the rudiments of a brain and spinal cord, and incipient muscles.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 17 June 2023
In childhood, cognition centers on the acquisition of language and the rudiments of abstract reasoning, while emotional skills such as self-regulation and empathy are still taking root.
—Andrew Serazin, Time, 14 June 2023
By its conclusion, someone will likely have developed the rudiments of emotion, segueing directly into Origins, a civilization game unlike any other.
—Dan Thurot, Ars Technica, 25 Apr. 2020
Two uncles, Pete and Bobby Domenick, played guitar and banjo professionally, and his uncle Bobby taught him some musical rudiments.
—Peter Keepnews, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rudiment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin rudimentum beginning, from rudis raw, rude
First Known Use
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near rudiment
Cite this Entry
“Rudiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rudiment. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
rudiment
noun
ru·di·ment
ˈrüd-ə-mənt
1
: a basic principle or skill
—usually used in plural
the rudiments of grammar
2
a
: something unformed or undeveloped : beginning
—usually used in plural
b
: a body part so underdeveloped in size or structure that it is unable to perform its normal function
Medical Definition
rudiment
noun
ru·di·ment
ˈrüd-ə-mənt
: an incompletely developed organ or part
especially
: an organ or part just beginning to develop : anlage
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