elemental

1 of 2

adjective

el·​e·​men·​tal ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being an element

specifically : existing as an uncombined chemical element

b(1)

: of, relating to, or being the basic or essential constituent of something : fundamental

elemental biological needs

(2)

: simple, uncomplicated

elemental food

c

: of, relating to, or dealing with the rudiments of something : elementary

taught elemental crafts to the children

d

: forming an integral part : inherent

an elemental sense of rhythm

2

: of, relating to, or resembling a great force of nature

the rains come with elemental violence

elemental passions

elementally

ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

elemental

2 of 2

noun

plural elementals

1

: a supernatural being : spirit

"It's a heritage. My mother was a witch and her mother was a witch. My specialty is (prophetic) dreaming. We believe elementals do exist," said Lady L …

—D. L. Stephenson

2

: an elementary part or principle

—usually plural

All objects consist of smaller objects. … Lamps, bicycles, and houses are compound objects made of constituent parts, or elementals.

—Alan L. Laity

These two epistemologies exist in distinct dimensions: science struggles to discover the elementals of our material existence through empiricism, and theology strives to describe the universality of our … existence through faith.

—Jack Hitt

Synonyms

Adjective

• abecedarian
• basal
• basic
• beginning
• elementary
• essential
• fundamental
• introductory
• meat-and-potatoes
• rudimental
• rudimentary
• underlying

Examples of elemental in a Sentence

Adjective

an elemental difference between the two

Their elemental passion led to tragedy.

the elemental power of the storm

an elemental analysis of the solution

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The very emptiness and quiet are his activity, the elemental place—overwhelming in a dozen different ways—his passion. —Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 18 Aug. 2024

Mohan seduces us with form while the central performance engages us on a more elemental level. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024

Noun

The Associated Press, in a piece announcing its adoption of the same rule, also riffed on the color-not-a-person argument, which rings to me, at its most elemental, as an erasure of the role that the Black Power and Black Pride movements played in the shaping of how the people address themselves. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2024

So, each stone's elemental structure – such as the presence (or lack) of iron, titanium or chromium – will contribute to its unique coloring. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

elemental

adjective

el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being an element

especially : existing as an uncombined chemical element

b

: elementary sense 1

2

: of, relating to, or resembling a force of nature

elementally

-ˈment-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

elemental

adjective

el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or being an element

specifically : existing as an uncombined chemical element