elementary

[ el-uh-men-tuh-ree, -tree ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or dealing with elements, rudiments, or first principles:

   an elementary grammar.

2. of or relating to an elementary school:

   elementary teachers.

3. of the nature of an ultimate constituent; simple or uncompounded.
4. pertaining to the four elements, earth, water, air, and fire, or to the great forces of nature; elemental.
5. Chemistry. of or noting one or more elements.

elementary

/ -trɪ; ˌɛlɪˈmɛntərɪ /

adjective

1. not difficult; simple; rudimentary
2. of or concerned with the first principles of a subject; introductory or fundamental
3. maths (of a function) having the form of an algebraic, exponential, trigonometric, or a logarithmic function, or any combination of these
4. chem another word for elemental

Derived Forms

• ˌeleˈmentarily, adverb
• ˌeleˈmentariness, noun

Other Words From

• el·e·men·tar·i·ly [el-, uh, -men-, ter, -, uh, -lee], adverb
• ele·menta·ri·ness noun
• nonel·e·menta·ry adjective
• postel·e·menta·ry adjective
• preel·e·menta·ry adjective
• quasi-ele·menta·ry adjective
• super·ele·menta·ry adjective
• transel·e·menta·ry adjective
• unel·e·menta·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elementary¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English elementare (from Middle French elementaire ), from Latin elementārius. See element, -ary

Synonym Study

Elementary, primary, rudimentary refer to what is basic and fundamental. Elementary refers to the introductory, simple, easy facts or parts of a subject that must necessarily be learned first in order to understand succeeding ones: elementary arithmetic. Primary may mean much the same as elementary; however, it usually emphasizes the idea of what comes first even more than that of simplicity: primary steps. Rudimentary applies to what is undeveloped or imperfect: a rudimentary form of government.

Example Sentences

I don’t know whether I would have been identified as gifted when I was a kid, but I certainly was bored out of my mind in elementary school.

From Los Angeles Times

He attended elementary school at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mott Street, where he was surrounded by the iconography of the Catholic Church.

From Los Angeles Times

They came from 33 different elementary schools in neighbourhoods representing a range of socioeconomic statuses and scattered around Quebec.

From Science Daily

More than 400 campuses in the district are elementary schools, at which the vast majority of students do not have cellphones.

From Los Angeles Times

Finally elementary particles are protons, electrons, neutrons and all other particles that are smaller than an atom.

From Salon

Related Words

• elemental
• fundamental
• rudimentary
• straightforward
• underlying

More About Elementary

What does elementary mean?

Elementary describes the basics or beginning steps of something. Elementary lessons in soccer, for example, might include how to dribble the ball.

The most common use of elementary in the US is in the phrase elementary school, the first few years of schooling, when the basics of reading, math, and other important subjects are taught. An elementary teacher is someone who teaches in elementary school and an elementary math book is a book with math lessons aimed at elementary schoolchildren.

Elementary can also be used in the context of chemical elements, which are a class of substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. In older scientific studies and belief systems, the Earth was believed to be elementarily comprised of four elements: earth, fire, water, and air.

Related to that, something that is elementary is simple or uncompounded.

Example: Times tables are simply elementary, so I do not need a calculator.

Where does elementary come from?

The first records of the term elementary come from the 1400s. It ultimately comes from the Latin elementārius, meaning “of one of the four elements.” The four elements were once considered the simple building blocks that make up nature.

Elementary is famous in popular culture as a supposed catchphrase for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. The phrase “It is elementary, my dear Watson,” was popularized by fans of the detective series but was never actually said by the character. Holmes did often use the word elementary, however,  when explaining his deductions. Doyle’s use of elementary makes his character appear smarter than the average person.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to elementary?

• elementarily (adverb)
• elementariness (noun)
• nonelementary (adjective)
• postelementary (adjective)

What are some synonyms for elementary?

• simple
• basic
• elemental
• fundamental
• straightforward

What are some words that share a root or word element with elementary?

• element
• elemental

What are some words that often get used in discussing elementary?

• chemistry
• function
• particle
• primary
• school

How is elementary used in real life?

Elementary is usually used to describe something basic or to suggest something difficult is actually easy.

I miss elementary school happiness. that prepubescent happiness hit different.

— queen quen (@quenblackwell) November 26, 2018

elementary, my dear hoatzin ! pic.twitter.com/cw4mSf2vuR

— ⍾ (@sjwalrus) October 7, 2020

Just for fun: If I were an elementary particle, I would be a:

— Tommy Technetium (Tom Kuntzleman) (@pchemstud) October 1, 2020

Try using elementary!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for elementary?

A. elemental
B. basic
C. simple
D. secondary