elemental

1 of 2

adjective

el·​e·​men·​tal ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
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 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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elemental was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near elemental

Cite this Entry

“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

elemental

adjective
el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
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
elementally adverb

Medical Definition

elemental

adjective
el·​e·​men·​tal ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
: of, relating to, or being an element
specifically : existing as an uncombined chemical element

More from Merriam-Webster on elemental

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