- 1 serious and very important; affecting the most central and important parts of something synonym basic There is a fundamental difference between the two points of view. A fundamental change in the organization of health services was required. a question of fundamental importance Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, seem, remain, … adverbreally, truly, very, … prepositionto, for See full entry
- 2 fundamental (to something) central; forming the necessary basis of something synonym essential Hard work is fundamental to success. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, seem, remain, … adverbreally, truly, very, … prepositionto, for See full entry
- 3 [only before noun] (physics) forming the source or base from which everything else is made; not able to be divided any further a fundamental particle Word Originlate Middle English: from French fondamental, or late Latin fundamentalis, from Latin fundamentum, from fundare ‘to found’.Extra examples I think they made a very fundamental mistake. Improved funding is fundamental to the success of the project. Low interest rates are fundamental for growth. This principle is absolutely fundamental. We consider these freedoms fundamental to democracy. An open system of criminal justice is a fundamental requirement of any democratic society. Living without war is a fundamental freedom. The fundamental dilemma remains: in a tolerant society, should we tolerate intolerance? This is a question of fundamental importance.
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