Pronunciation

/ˌelɪmənˈteri/

Definitions

• Adjective: Relating to the basic or fundamental aspects of something; not complex or advanced. For example: “Elementary mathematics includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.”

  • In education: Pertaining to the first few years of formal schooling, typically covering basic subjects. Example: “Elementary school prepares children for more advanced learning.”
  • In science: Relating to the simplest or most fundamental constituents of matter or energy. Example: “Elementary particles make up all known matter in the universe.”

• Noun (rarely used): The elements or rudiments of a subject; basics. Example: “The teacher started with the elementary of chemistry before moving on to complex theories.”

Phrases

• “Elementary, my dear Watson”: A famous quote from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, used by Holmes when he has solved a mystery that seems simple but may have eluded others.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “Understanding the elementary principles of physics is crucial for scientific literacy.”
• As Noun (rarely used) : “Learning the elementary of programming languages was the first step towards becoming a software engineer.”

Synonyms

• Basic
• Fundamental
• Simple
• Rudimentary
• Primer
• ABCs (informal)
• Fundamentals
• Essentials
• Groundwork
• Basics of