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
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
The hatred is a reminder that, for Ukrainians, this war is elemental.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
This is the hope of Mount Sinai researchers who have shown for the first time that just a single strand of hair can reveal unique elemental patterns that distinguish people with ALS from healthy individuals.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elemental
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Adjective
The fighting shows Aang using his airbending, while also entering the Avatar State for some powerful moves; Zuko firebending and donning his Blue Spirit mask and swords; Korra using all four elements and also using the Avatar State; and much more elemental fighting.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
The hatred is a reminder that, for Ukrainians, this war is elemental.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
The team used laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MS), a technique that uses direct micro-scale sampling to provide high-precision elemental and isotope analyses of solid materials, to scan Neanderthal molars and other hominid fossils.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
This is the hope of Mount Sinai researchers who have shown for the first time that just a single strand of hair can reveal unique elemental patterns that distinguish people with ALS from healthy individuals.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elemental
Cite this Entry
“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elemental. Accessed 31 Oct. 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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