Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Elementary has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
An elementary school
"My younger brother is starting at an elementary school next month."
In plain English: An elementary is a basic or fundamental part of something that is needed to make it work.
"The elementary school teacher prepared lessons for her young students."
Usage: As a noun, "elementary" refers to an elementary school or the lower grades of education. Use this term when specifically discussing institutions for young children rather than describing something as basic or fundamental.
easy and not involved or complicated
"an elementary problem in statistics"
"elementary, my dear Watson"
"a simple game"
"found an uncomplicated solution to the problem"
of or pertaining to or characteristic of elementary school or elementary education
"the elementary grades"
"elementary teachers"
of or being the essential or basic part
"an elementary need for love and nurturing"
"a basal reader"
Relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something.
"The elementary structure of the bridge relies on a simple triangular framework for stability."
In plain English: Something that is elementary is basic and easy to understand because it is the foundation of a subject.
"The children learned to read in elementary school."
Usage: Use elementary to describe something that is simple, basic, or easily understood, such as an elementary mistake or an elementary principle. Avoid using it to mean "superior" or "advanced," which are incorrect interpretations of its core meaning.
The word elementary comes from Latin, where it originally described things related to one of the four classical elements or fundamental principles. It entered English through Middle English before taking on its modern meaning of being basic or introductory.