Origin: Latin suffix -al
Fundamental has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
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"
the lowest tone of a harmonic series
"The organist adjusted the pedal to match the fundamental frequency before introducing the higher harmonics."
A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; an essential part
"The new policy relies on three fundamental principles to ensure fair treatment for all employees."
In plain English: A fundamental is a basic truth or principle that forms the foundation of something important.
"The fundamental to this recipe is fresh herbs."
Usage: Use "fundamental" as a noun to refer to a basic principle or essential element that forms the core of a system, such as calling democracy a fundamental of our society. Avoid using it as a standalone noun when you simply mean something important, as it often functions more naturally as an adjective modifying another noun like "principles" or "rights."
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"
being or involving basic facts or principles
"the fundamental laws of the universe"
"a fundamental incompatibility between them"
"these rudimentary truths"
"underlying principles"
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"
Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation.
"The teacher explained that understanding fractions is fundamental to mastering algebra later in school."
In plain English: Fundamental means being absolutely essential or forming the most important basis for something.
"The rules of grammar are fundamental to learning how to write clearly."
Usage: Use fundamental to describe something that forms the most important basis or core of a system, theory, or situation. Avoid using it merely to mean "basic" when a simpler word like elementary would suffice.
The word fundamental comes from Late Latin fundamentālis, which originally meant "relating to a foundation." It entered English through the same root that gives us words like found and bottom.