elementary

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elementary

/ˌɛlɪˈmɛntəɹi/ UK
/ˌɛlɪˈmɛntɹi/ UK
/ˌɛləˈmɛntəɹi/ US
/ˌɛləˈmɛntɹi/ US

Rhymes with -ɛntəɹi, -ɛntɹi

Where it comes from

From Middle English elementare, from Latin elementārius (“elementary”), from elementum (“one of the four elements of antiquity; fundamentals”) + -ārius (adjective-forming suffix). Cognate with French élémentaire. By surface analysis, element + -ary.

adjective more elementary · most elementary · elementar · elem

Relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something.
Very simple.
Relating to an elementary school.
Fundamental: serving as a building block for more complicated structures or processes. It is clear, therefore, that idealism contradicts the most elementary scientific knowledge and is contrary to all progress, whether social or intellectual.
Relating to a subatomic particle.
of a reaction Involving only a single reaction step and transition state.
of a square matrix Which performs a row or column operation on another matrix when the two are multiplied; see Elementary matrix on Wikipedia.Wikipedia (Such matrices are called "elementary" because they generate the general linear group).
of a symmetric polynomial Arising from Vieta's formulas; see Elementary symmetric polynomial on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
of an argument or proof Straightforward, employing only basic techniques; not requiring substantial knowledge (of some particular domain, object, etc.).
of an argument or proof Making no use of complex analysis.
archaic Sublunary; not celestial; belonging to the sublunary sphere, to which the four classical elements (earth, air, fire and water) were confined; composed of or pertaining to these four elements.

noun elementaries · elementar · elem

abbreviation, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable Ellipsis of elementary school At Lakeside Elementary I learned to appreciate the forest.
countable A supernatural being associated with the elements. The demon (or elementary) of the South-West wind was particularly dreaded, as being the gini of fever and madness.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: basal, primary, basic, beginning, abecedarian, easy, uncomplicated, simple, unproblematic, fundamental, initial, primitive, primal, basis, foundation, base

Translations

Every language

adj relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something

Español	elementario
한국어	기본적 gibonjeok
日本語	基本的な kihonteki na
中文	基本 jīběn
Português	elementar
Français	élémentaire
Deutsch	elementar
Italiano	elementare
Ελληνικά	στοιχειώδης stoicheiódis
Română	elementar, fundamental
Русский	элемента́рный elementárnyj

adj relating to an elementary school

中文	小學的 /小学的 xiǎoxué de
Português	fundamental
Italiano	elementare
Ελληνικά	στοιχειώδης stoicheiódis
Română	elementară (școală)
Русский	нача́льный načálʹnyj

adj relating to a subatomic particle

Español	elemental
Português	elementar
Italiano	elementare
Ελληνικά	στοιχειώδης stoicheiódis
Română	elementar
Русский	элемента́рный elementárnyj

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MLA

"elementary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/elementary. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

elementary. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/elementary

Chicago

"elementary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/elementary.

BibTeX

@misc{elementary_2026,
  title = {elementary},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/elementary},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}