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.

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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.  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 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

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

Since the original publication, scientists have continued exploring how viscosity, diffusion, and fluid behavior connect to fundamental physics.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2026

Section 122 grants that temporary permission whenever fundamental international payments problems require “special import measures to restrict imports to deal with large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits.”

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

In the hopes of safeguarding their newborns from what they see as unnecessary medical intervention, they have shunned fundamental and scientifically sound pharmaceutical intervention.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

But the international surge suggests something more fundamental: an enormous reservoir of pent-up demand that is only beginning to be tapped.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

There is a fundamental difference between these two conceptions of the Scientific Revolution.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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