el·e·men·tal
ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
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
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
D. L. Stephenson2
: 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
Alan L. LaityThese 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
Jack HittExamples 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
William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Peña’s staging, mostly within a simple 15-foot sumo ring designed by Wilson Chin, provides plenty of intense action, which the men’s size and strength make almost elemental, like collisions of planets.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Many bottles contain elemental and chemical amounts.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elemental
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Adjective
Water is not only fundamental to all life but can also be a source of elemental oxygen for respiration and hydrogen for fuel and so can provide three of the four essential ingredients for terraformation.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Peña’s staging, mostly within a simple 15-foot sumo ring designed by Wilson Chin, provides plenty of intense action, which the men’s size and strength make almost elemental, like collisions of planets.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
There’s a bit of video-game fantasy to all this as well, but what’s onscreen here is a lot more transporting and feels older, more elemental.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Many bottles contain elemental and chemical amounts.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elemental
Articles Related to elemental
Cite this Entry
“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elemental
adjective
el·e·men·tal
ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl
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
Medical Definition
elemental
adjective
el·e·men·tal
ˌel-ə-ˈment-ᵊl
: of, relating to, or being an element
specifically
: existing as an uncombined chemical element
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