Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of central importance; forming a necessary base or core: Describes something that serves as an essential foundation or is a primary element from which other things develop.
   • Affecting the underlying nature or essential character of something: Describes a change, principle, or quality that is deep, thorough, and foundational, not superficial.
   • Relating to the most basic facts, rules, or principles: Pertains to the simplest, most indispensable elements of a subject or system.

2. Noun:

   • A basic rule, principle, or element: A primary or essential part upon which a system, theory, or structure is based.
   • The root note of a chord in music; the lowest tone in a harmonic series: In music theory, the note on which a chord is built and from which it derives its name.
   • A primary factor in understanding a subject: An element considered vital for comprehension, especially in analysis (e.g., of a business).

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • Respect for human rights is a fundamental principle of a just society.
  • The discovery led to a fundamental shift in our understanding of physics.
  • There is a fundamental difference between these two political philosophies.

• Noun:

  • He taught me the fundamentals of computer programming.
  • In this chord, C is the fundamental.
  • Analyzing a company's fundamentals, like cash flow and debt, is crucial for investors.

Advanced Usage

• "Fundamental to": Essential for; being a core part of.
  • Trust is fundamental to any strong relationship.
• "At its most fundamental": At its most basic or core level.
  • At its most fundamental, the debate is about the role of government.
• "Fundamental analysis": In finance, the evaluation of a security's intrinsic value by examining related economic and financial factors.
  • The investor relied on fundamental analysis to pick stocks.

Variants and Related Words

• Fundamentally (adverb): In a central or primary manner; essentially.
  • The two theories are fundamentally opposed.
• Fundamentalism (noun): A form of a religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture. (Note: This is a specific, often religious/political, compound term derived from the core idea of adhering to "fundamentals").
• Fundamentalist (noun/adjective): A person who believes in fundamentalism; relating to fundamentalism.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Basic, essential, primary, central, underlying, rudimentary, cardinal.
• Noun: Basic, principle, essential, cornerstone, foundation, rudiment.

Related Phrases

• "Back to fundamentals": Returning to the most basic principles or elements.
  • After a series of losses, the coach told the team to get back to fundamentals.
• "A fundamental flaw/error": A basic and critical mistake or weakness.
  • The argument was built on a fundamental flaw in logic.

Idioms

• "Get down to fundamentals": To start discussing or dealing with the most basic and important aspects.
  • Let's stop skirting the issue and get down to fundamentals.

Adjective

1. far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something
   • 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
2. being or involving basic facts or principles
   • the fundamental laws of the universe
   • a fundamental incomatibility between them
   • these rudimentary truths
   • underlying principles
3. serving as an essential component
   • a cardinal rule
   • the central cause of the problem
   • an example that was fundamental to the argument
   • computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure

Noun

1. the lowest tone of a harmonic series
2. any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business
   • fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure