fundamental
gb/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/ us/fˌʌndəmˈɛntəl/
B1
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
basic and essential
Being the most important and basic part of something.
Usage pattern:
[something] is fundamental to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fundamental' with 'elementary'; 'elementary' can mean simple or basic in level, while 'fundamental' refers to importance and necessity.
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.)
Collocations
fundamental right
|fundamental change
|fundamental principle
|fundamental problem
|fundamental difference
Themes
education
|science
|philosophy
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Trust is fundamental to any healthy relationship.
- Understanding basic math is fundamental for studying physics.
- 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.
- Reading is fundamental to learning.
- Food is fundamental to health.
- Trust is fundamental in friendship.
- Sleep is fundamental to feeling good.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
basic principle or rule
An important rule or idea that supports how something works.
Usage pattern:
the fundamentals of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'fundamentals' with 'basics'; 'fundamentals' often has a slightly more formal or technical tone.
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.)
Collocations
master the fundamentals
|learn the fundamentals
|fundamentals of physics
|fundamentals of design
Themes
education
|science
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You need to understand the fundamentals of coding before building an app.
- The course will cover the fundamentals of economics.
- 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.
- She taught me the fundamentals of cooking.
- He knows the fundamentals of football.
- We study the fundamentals of science in school.
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.