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
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
D. L. Stephenson2
: 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
Alan L. LaityThese 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
Jack HittSynonyms
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
Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
With its sleek design and elemental materials—concrete, wood, and stone—the villa’s open-air kitchen and seating area are ideal for festive meals, while its outdoor natural stone pool is perfect for enjoying the area’s tropical climate.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for elemental 
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Adjective
The very emptiness and quiet are his activity, the elemental place—overwhelming in a dozen different ways—his passion.
—Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
With its sleek design and elemental materials—concrete, wood, and stone—the villa’s open-air kitchen and seating area are ideal for festive meals, while its outdoor natural stone pool is perfect for enjoying the area’s tropical climate.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 7 Sep. 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
See all Example Sentences for elemental
Articles Related to elemental
Dictionary Entries Near elemental
Cite this Entry
“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
2
: of, relating to, or resembling a force of nature
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
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