fundamental

[ fuhn-duh-men-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 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

/ 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 calledfundamental frequencyfirst harmonic physics
   1. the component of lowest frequency in a complex vibration
   2. the frequency of this component

Derived Forms

• ˌfundamenˈtality, noun

Other Words From

• fun·da·men·tal·i·ty [fuhn-d, uh, -men-, tal, -i-tee], fun·da·men·tal·ness noun
• fun·da·men·tal·ly adverb
• non·fun·da·men·tal adjective noun
• non·fun·da·men·tal·ly adverb
• un·fun·da·men·tal adjective
• un·fun·da·men·tal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fundamental¹

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

Example Sentences

It is a fundamental division over whether the party should become a right-wing populist cult willing to subvert democracy to keep power.

From Washington Post

Surprisingly, this fundamental assumption had yet to be tested in an experimental study.

From Ars Technica

If the numbers predict a rebound and the scouts’ eyes don’t see fundamental deterioration, they act.

From Washington Post

In other words, because AI mimics the brain, which has a completely alien structure to modern computers, there’s a fundamental incompatibility.

From Singularity Hub 

Ward has found mathematical commonalities in different contexts and believes something fundamental could be going on behind the scenes.

From Quanta Magazine

Everyone out there who says, “Charlie Hebdo provoked,” is making the same fundamental error.

From The Daily Beast

This is a testament to the fundamental human—and American—desire to combine place and possibility.

From The Daily Beast

In the meantime, we continue to support the restoration of fundamental human rights in Cuba.

From The Daily Beast

Moreover, for America there is a fundamental imperative to act.

From The Daily Beast

In very different but related ways, they raise fundamental questions irrespective of race about how policing gets done.

From The Daily Beast

Besides this fundamental or primary vibration, the movement divides itself into segments, or sections, of the entire length.

From Project Gutenberg

What the ear hears is the fundamental pitch only; the overtones harmonize with the primary or fundamental tone, and enrich it.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only have its fundamental principles been fully vindicated but in most details the working of the measure has been successful.

From Project Gutenberg

Judge for yourself the difficulty surrounding the remainder of the symbols and fundamental truths of christianity.

From Project Gutenberg

And hence the reader can notice the fundamental difference between all other methods and mine.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottom line
• component
• cornerstone
• element
• factor
• foundation
• law
• principle