adj · noun · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
California, Southern:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian, New-Zealand:/ˌfɐn.dəˈmen.təl/
Australian, New-Zealand:[fɐn.dəˈmen.tɫ̩]
CMU ARPABET:F AH2 N D AH0 M EH1 N T AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:F AH2 N D AH0 M EH1 N AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Related to a foundation, base, or basis; serving as a foundation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Essential; extremely important.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a fundamental truth; a fundamental axiom; a fundamental element; fundamental principle; fundamental law
A need for belonging seems fundamental to humans.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: elementary
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A basic truth, elementary concept, principle, rule, or law. An individual fundamental will often serve as a building block used to form a complex idea.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: singular
Qualifier: generic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A collection of essential component ideas that are often grouped together to serve as the foundational basis of a complex idea.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural
Qualifier: generic
Examples
one of the fundamentals of linear algebra
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The lowest frequency of a periodic waveform.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The lowest partial of a complex tone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
serving as an essential component
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a cardinal rule
the central cause of the problem
an example that was fundamental to the argument
computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cardinal, central, key, primal
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
being or involving basic facts or principles
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the fundamental laws of the universe
a fundamental incomatibility between them
these rudimentary truths
underlying principles
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rudimentary, underlying
Antonyms: none provided
9
adjective satellite
Meaning 9
far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred
the book underwent fundamental changes
committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance
profound social changes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: profound
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
the lowest tone of a harmonic series
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fundamental frequency, first harmonic
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: harmonic
11
noun
Meaning 11
any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: factor
History
Etymology
From Late Latin fundamentālis, from Latin fundamentum (“foundation”), from fundō (“to lay the foundation (of something), to found”), from fundus (“bottom”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhudhmḗn.
Across languages
Translations
114 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
أَسَاسِيّ
(ʔasāsiyy)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Azerbaijani:
əsas
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Azerbaijani:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Azerbaijani:
əsaslı
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Belarusian:
асно́ўны
(asnówny)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Belarusian:
фундамента́льны
(fundamjentálʹny)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Belarusian:
падставо́вы
(padstavóvy)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Bengali:
মৌলিক
(mōulik)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Bulgarian:
фундамента́лен
(fundamentálen)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Bulgarian:
осно́вен
(osnóven)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Catalan:
fonamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Chinese Cantonese:
基本
(gei1 bun2)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Chinese Mandarin:
基本
(jīběn)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Czech:
základní
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Czech:
podstatný
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Danish:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Danish:
grundlæggende
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Dutch:
fundamenteel
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Esperanto:
fundamenta
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Estonian:
põhi-
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Finnish:
perustavanlaatuinen
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Finnish:
olennainen
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Finnish:
fundamentaalinen
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Finnish:
perus-
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
French:
fondamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Galician:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Georgian:
ფუძემდებელი
(puʒemdebeli)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Georgian:
ფუნდამენტალური
(pundamenṭaluri)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Georgian:
ფუნდამენტური
(pundamenṭuri)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Georgian:
არსებითი
(arsebiti)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Georgian:
ძირითადი
(ʒiritadi)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
German:
grundlegend
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
German:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
German:
grundsätzlich
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Greek:
θεμελιώδης
(themeliódis)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Hungarian:
alapvető
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Ingrian:
osnovnoi
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Italian:
fondamentale
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Japanese:
基本的な
(kihonteki na)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Kazakh:
іргелі
(ırgelı)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Kazakh:
негізгі
(negızgı)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Korean:
기본적
(gibonjeok)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Latvian:
fundamentāls
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Malayalam:
അടിസ്ഥാന
(aṭisthāna)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Malayalam:
മൗലിക
(maulika)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Maltese:
fundamentali
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Maltese:
fondamentali
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Māori:
whakapū
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Norwegian Bokmål:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Norwegian Bokmål:
grunnleggende
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Persian:
بنیادی
(bonyâdi)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Persian:
اساسی
(asâsi)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Polish:
podstawowy
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Polish:
fundamentalny
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Portuguese:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Quechua:
tiksi
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Romanian:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Romanian:
de bază
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Russian:
основно́й
(osnovnój)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Russian:
основополага́ющий
(osnovopolagájuščij)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Russian:
фундамента́льный
(fundamentálʹnyj)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Russian:
суще́ственный
(suščéstvennyj)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Serbo-Croatian:
fȕndamentālan
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Serbo-Croatian:
ȍsnovān
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Serbo-Croatian:
tȅmēljnī
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Spanish:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Spanish:
cimental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Swedish:
grundläggande
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Swedish:
fundamental
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Tagalog:
batayan
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Tajik:
бунёдӣ
(bunyodi)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Tajik:
асосӣ
(asosi)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Thai:
พื้นฐาน
(pʉ́ʉn-tǎan)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Thai:
เบื้องต้น
(bʉ̂ʉang-dtôn)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Turkish:
esas
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Turkish:
temel
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Turkish:
ana
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Ukrainian:
основни́й
(osnovnýj)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Ukrainian:
фундамента́льний
(fundamentálʹnyj)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Ukrainian:
підставо́вий
(pidstavóvyj)
— pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation
Armenian:
հիմունք
(himunkʻ)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Bulgarian:
при́нцип
(príncip)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Bulgarian:
осно́ва
(osnóva)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Catalan:
fonamental
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Chinese Mandarin:
基本
(jīběn)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Czech:
zásadní
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Finnish:
fundamentti
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Finnish:
perusta
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Finnish:
peruskivi
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Finnish:
perusteet
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
French:
fondement
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Galician:
fundamento
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Georgian:
საფუძველი
(sapuʒveli)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Georgian:
ძირითადი წესი
(ʒiritadi c̣esi)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
German:
Grundlage
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Greek:
θεμέλιο
(themélio)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Italian:
fondamento
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Japanese:
基本
(kihon)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Kazakh:
негіз
(negız)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Korean:
기본
(gibon)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Māori:
tūāpapa
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Eastern Mari:
тӱҥ
(tüŋ)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Navajo:
áʼádaatʼéhígíí
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Norwegian:
fundamental
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Norwegian Bokmål:
grunnleggende
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Portuguese:
fundamento
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Romanian:
fundament
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Russian:
осно́вы
(osnóvy)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Russian:
при́нцип
(príncip)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Serbo-Croatian:
ȍsnova
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Serbo-Croatian:
tèmelj
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Ukrainian:
при́нцип
(prýncyp)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
Ukrainian:
осно́ва
(osnóva)
— a leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article
