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
• 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

Because the fundamental problem is one that imports can’t solve: America no longer has enough cattle.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026

But there's a feeling that the fundamental challenges he faces are the same faced by Sir Keir, and that he'll be largely constrained by the same economic conditions.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

“It’s fundamental that the norms of seismic-resistance construction are respected.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026

“There’s a fundamental shift in succession planning,” said Raheela Anwar, a longtime corporate adviser, who is president and CEO of Group 360 Consulting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

In both cases, Dobzhansky noted, the fundamental questions at stake were biological.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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