fundamental Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business
    • fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure
  2. noun the lowest tone of a harmonic series
    first harmonic; fundamental frequency.
  3. adjective satellite serving as an essential component
    central; cardinal; key; primal.
    • a cardinal rule
    • the central cause of the problem
    • an example that was fundamental to the argument
    • computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure
  4. adjective satellite being or involving basic facts or principles
    underlying; rudimentary.
    • the fundamental laws of the universe
    • a fundamental incomatibility between them
    • these rudimentary truths
    • underlying principles
  5. adjective satellite far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something
    profound.
    • the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred
    • the book underwent fundamental changes
    • committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance
    • profound social changes

WordNet

Fun`da*men"tal adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. fondamental.
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to the foundation or basis; serving for the foundation. Hence: Essential, as an element, principle, or law; important; original; elementary; as, a fundamental truth; a fundamental axiom.
    The fundamental reasons of this war. Shak.
    Some fundamental antithesis in nature. Whewell.
Fun"da*men`tal noun
Definitions
  1. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part, as, the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Webster 1913