fundamental

American  

[fuhn-duh-men-tl] / ˌfʌn dəˈmɛn tl /

adjective

1. 

   serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or basis; basic; underlying.

   fundamental principles;

   the fundamental structure.

   Synonyms:

   primary, indispensable

2. of, relating to, or affecting the foundation or basis.

   a fundamental revision.

3. being an original or primary source.

   a fundamental idea.

4. Music. (of a chord) having its root as its lowest note.

---

noun

1. a basic principle, rule, law, or the like, that serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part.

   to master the fundamentals of a trade.

2. Also called fundamental tone, fundamental note. Music.

   1. the root of a chord.

   2. the generator of a series of harmonics.

3. Physics. the component of lowest frequency in a composite wave.

fundamental British  

/ ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. of, involving, or comprising a foundation; basic

2. of, involving, or comprising a source; primary

3. music denoting or relating to the principal or lowest note of a harmonic series

4. of or concerned with the component of lowest frequency in a complex vibration

---

noun

1. a principle, law, etc, that serves as the basis of an idea or system

2. 1. the principal or lowest note of a harmonic series

   2. the bass note of a chord in root position

3. Also called: fundamental frequency, first harmonic. physics

   1. the component of lowest frequency in a complex vibration

   2. the frequency of this component

Other Word Forms

• fundamentality
  noun
• fundamentalness
  noun
• nonfundamental
  adjective
• unfundamental
  adjective
• fundamentally
  adverb
• nonfundamentally
  adverb
• unfundamentally
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of fundamental

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin fundāmentālis “of, belonging to a foundation”; see fundament, -al ¹

---

Explanation

When asked what the fundamental, or essential, principles of life are, a teenager might reply, "Breathe. Be a good friend. Eat chocolate. Get gas money." Fundamental has its roots in the Latin word fundamentum, which means "foundation." So if something is fundamental, it is a key point or underlying issue — the foundation, if you will — that the thing is built upon. Teachers argue that math fundamentals include memorizing the times tables and understanding long division. Many people would also argue that math fundamentals should include knowing how to use a calculator and knowing where the calculator's extra batteries are kept.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fundamental

It’s the fundamental source of Brooke’s sadness, and her attempt to exorcise it, that sets the plot boiling, when she reveals that her new book is not a novel but a memoir.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said whole streets "have been devastated" in the capital, making a distinction between the "fundamental" right to protest and "unacceptable" violence.

From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2026

Pepsi needs to stop tinkering and consider more fundamental changes, including a spinoff of its bottling operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Furthermore, he argued, fundamental questions about what an independent Scotland would look and feel like must be answered now - such as the currency that would be used and how the state pension would work.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Even Darwin, among the strongest original proponents of the fundamental mutability of nature, would have found this rate of mutation surprising.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• central
• constitutional
• crucial
• elemental
• elementary
• essential
• indispensable
• integral
• intrinsic
• major
• necessary
• paramount
• principal
• radical
• significant
• structural
• theoretical
• underlying
• vital

---