rudimentary
adjective
ru·di·men·ta·ry
ˌrü-də-ˈmen-tə-rē 
-ˈmen-trē
1
: consisting in first principles : fundamental
had only a rudimentary formal education—
D. J. Boorstin
D. J. Boorstin2
: of a primitive kind
the equipment of these past empire-builders was rudimentary—A. J. Toynbee
A. J. Toynbee3
: very imperfectly developed or represented only by a vestige
the rudimentary tail of a hyrax
Examples of rudimentary in a Sentence
Because now, every schlemiel with a pair of mirrored sunglasses and a rudimentary grasp of the rules of poker thinks he can play cards with the pros.
—A. J. Jacobs, New York Times Book Review, 8 May 2005
Despite the rudimentary nature of its instruments—an octant, a chronometer and a level—the Lewis and Clark Expedition was a triumph for science and natural history.
—Daniel J. Boorstin, U.S. News & World Report, 11 July 1994
A few were hopeless imbeciles, unable to comprehend more than the rudimentary requirements of filling their bellies when food was placed before them …
—Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Monster Men, 1929
This class requires a rudimentary knowledge of human anatomy.
When baseball was in its rudimentary stages, different teams played by different rules.
Some insects have only rudimentary wings.
A. J. Jacobs, New York Times Book Review, 8 May 2005
Despite the rudimentary nature of its instruments—an octant, a chronometer and a level—the Lewis and Clark Expedition was a triumph for science and natural history.
—Daniel J. Boorstin, U.S. News & World Report, 11 July 1994
A few were hopeless imbeciles, unable to comprehend more than the rudimentary requirements of filling their bellies when food was placed before them …
—Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Monster Men, 1929
This class requires a rudimentary knowledge of human anatomy.
When baseball was in its rudimentary stages, different teams played by different rules.
Some insects have only rudimentary wings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Set in 1994 and kitted out with plenty of period-appropriate details, the film’s setting allows for all sorts of mystery (and one, quite funny, rudimentary internet search).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Those humans who were good at it, even in its most rudimentary forms, would have a real advantage.
—Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025
But most users do not yet have passkeys on their accounts and still rely on passwords, perhaps with some rudimentary form of 2FA.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
For one thing, its definition of artisanal mining is extremely narrow, applying only to those using the most rudimentary tools and working on the surface, immediately ruling out miners like Siyabonga and Xhulu who work underground.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rudimentary
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Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Those humans who were good at it, even in its most rudimentary forms, would have a real advantage.
—Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025
But most users do not yet have passkeys on their accounts and still rely on passwords, perhaps with some rudimentary form of 2FA.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
For one thing, its definition of artisanal mining is extremely narrow, applying only to those using the most rudimentary tools and working on the surface, immediately ruling out miners like Siyabonga and Xhulu who work underground.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rudimentary
Cite this Entry
“Rudimentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rudimentary. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rudimentary
adjective
ru·di·men·ta·ry
ˌrüd-ə-ˈment-ə-rē
-ˈmen-trē
2
: very imperfectly developed or represented only by a small part compared to the fully developed form
a rudimentary tail
Medical Definition
rudimentary
adjective
ru·di·men·ta·ry
ˌrüd-ə-ˈment-ə-rē, -ˈmen-trē
: very imperfectly developed or represented only by a vestige
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