fundamentally

[ fuhn-duh-men-tl-ee ]

adverb

1. in a fundamental and essential way; centrally and foundationally:

   a nine-point plan that will fundamentally transform our system of eldercare.

2. as regards the basic nature, character, or truth of something; basically and often emphatically:

   Fundamentally, they just want their independence.

Other Words From

• non·fun·da·men·tal·ly adverb
• un·fun·da·men·tal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fundamentally¹

First recorded in 1600–20; fundamental ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

Sculptors Davide Prete and Warren Chambers offer eloquent sculptures that share some attributes yet are fundamentally different.

From Washington Post

Because it’s fundamentally integrated into Unreal Engine on the whole, it can take advantage of some of the features baked into the platform.

From Popular-Science

We are of the principle that what works for acquisition fundamentally works for retention as well.

From Digiday

I ask, thinking back on our numerous conversations about how a high-speed, comfortable, enclosed lift to the summit will fundamentally change the King’s no-frills, low-key vibe.

From Washington Post

To the founders, YC’s backing validates Djamo’s premise that financial service distribution across the Francophone Africa region is fundamentally changing towards applications.

From TechCrunch

“It fundamentally changes the architecture of forest canopies,” says Watson.

From The Daily Beast

Complementarity also means, of course, than men and women are fundamentally different.

From The Daily Beast

The two-state solution, if implemented, fundamentally discredits the whole concept of a conspiracy against Islam.

From The Daily Beast

And these initiatives represent an effort to fundamentally rethink our landscape.

From The Daily Beast

But surely expanding reproductive choice is fundamentally feminist.

From The Daily Beast

It makes one believe that fundamentally the country must be sound—that unswerving fidelity to an ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

The pupils will see that the above method is fundamentally unlike the ordinary question and answer method.

From Project Gutenberg

The book seems destined to live longer than any written by the author to date, because it is so sane and so fundamentally true.

From Project Gutenberg

What claims then have colored men, based upon the principles set forth, as fundamentally entitled to citizenship?

From Project Gutenberg

From this you can conclude that if you are antipathetic to me, this antipathy proceeds fundamentally from myself.

From Project Gutenberg