Pronunciation

/ˌfʌndəˈmentl/

Definitions

• Adjective: Serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or basis; forming or relating to the most basic or important aspects of something. For example: “Fundamental principles of democracy.”

  • Philosophy: Relating to the essence or intrinsic nature of something. “A fundamental understanding of human nature.”
  • Physics: Of or pertaining to the lowest frequency component of a wave or oscillation. “The fundamental frequency of a sound wave.”

• Noun: A basic truth, law, or principle that serves as the groundwork for a system or belief. For example: “The fundamentals of mathematics.”

Phrases

• “Fundamental rights”: Basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.
• “Get back to fundamentals”: To return to the most basic and essential elements or practices.
• “Fundamentals of the economy”: The basic economic factors that underpin growth and stability.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “Education is fundamental to personal development and societal progress.”
• Noun: “Understanding the fundamentals of coding was crucial before tackling complex algorithms.”

Synonyms

• Essential
• Basic
• Core
• Key
• Root
• Elementary
• Underlying
• Principal
• Foundational
• Bedrock