fundamental
gb/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/ us/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/
B1
English
~ 2100
alapvető, alapok, alapelv
B1
1
alapvető
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is fundamental to [something]
Trust is fundamental to any healthy relationship.
A bizalom alapvető fontosságú minden egészséges kapcsolatban.
Understanding basic math is fundamental for studying physics.
A matematika alapjainak megértése alapvető fontosságú a fizika tanulásához.
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in many democracies.
Good communication skills are fundamental for this job.
The report highlights fundamental flaws in the system.
Learner examples
Water is fundamental for life.
A víz alapvető fontosságú az élethez.
Reading is fundamental to learning.
Az olvasás alapvető fontosságú a tanuláshoz.
Food is fundamental to health.
Trust is fundamental in friendship.
Sleep is fundamental to feeling good.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fundamental' with 'elementary'; 'elementary' can mean simple or basic in level, while 'fundamental' refers to importance and necessity.
Meaning
basic and essential
Collocations
fundamental right
|fundamental change
|fundamental principle
|fundamental problem
|fundamental difference
Synonyms
essential (Slightly more common in everyday speech; conveys absolute necessity.)
|
basic (Simpler and more informal; may imply simplicity rather than importance.)
Antonyms
trivial (Suggests something small or unimportant, opposite of fundamental importance.)
|
secondary (Implies something less central or less important compared to the main point.)
Themes
education
|science
|philosophy
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Being the most important and basic part of something.
Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
the fundamentals of [something]
You need to understand the fundamentals of coding before building an app.
Mielőtt alkalmazást készítenél, meg kell értened a programozás alapjait.
The course will cover the fundamentals of economics.
A kurzus a közgazdaságtan alapjait fogja tárgyalni.
He explained the fundamentals of contract law to the students.
Before you start painting, learn the fundamentals of color theory.
Learner examples
I am learning the fundamentals of English grammar.
Az angol nyelvtan alapjait tanulom.
She taught me the fundamentals of cooking.
Megtanította nekem a főzés alapjait.
He knows the fundamentals of football.
We study the fundamentals of science in school.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'fundamentals' with 'basics'; 'fundamentals' often has a slightly more formal or technical tone.
Meaning
basic principle or rule
Collocations
master the fundamentals
|learn the fundamentals
|fundamentals of physics
|fundamentals of design
Synonyms
principle (Can refer more broadly to moral rules or scientific laws.)
|
foundation (Metaphorical use for the base on which something is built.)
Antonyms
detail (Refers to a small, specific part rather than the core idea.)
Themes
education
|science
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An important rule or idea that supports how something works.
A central or primary rule, law, or principle on which something is based.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fundamental
IPA
GB/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/
US/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/
Syllables & stress
fun - da - ment - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ment)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fundamental
Noun
- Base: fundamental
- Plural: fundamentals
Word family
Forms
fundamentals
noun
Core family
fundamentally
adverb B2
Related words
foundation
noun A2
foundational
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
nonfundamental
adjective
Advanced or less common
fundamentalism
noun C1
fundamentalist
noun C1
Expressions
fundamental change
1/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
deep and important change
A very big and important change in how something works or is done.
Examples
- The internet has caused a fundamental change in how we communicate.
- Climate change may lead to a fundamental change in agriculture.
fundamental rights
1/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
formal
basic legal rights
The most important rights that every person should have by law.
Examples
- Freedom of speech is one of our fundamental rights.
- The constitution protects citizens' fundamental rights.
go back to fundamentals
1/ɡˈoʊ bˈæk tə fˌʌndəmˈɛntəlz/
fixed phrase
return to basic principles
To start again from the most important and simple ideas or rules.
Examples
- When the project failed, they decided to go back to fundamentals.
- The coach told the team to go back to fundamentals after several losses.