elementary

[el-uh-men-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˌɛl əˈmɛn tə ri, -tri /

ADJECTIVE

simple, basic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

elemental fundamental rudimentary straightforward underlying

WEAK

ABCs abecedarian basal beginning child's play clear duck soup easy essential facile foundational initial introductory meat and potatoes original plain prefatory preliminary primary primitive primo simplest simplex simplified substratal uncomplex uncomplicated

Antonyms

STRONGEST

additional advanced extra secondary

WEAK

abstruse complex complicated compound difficult hard intricate involved

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Miami Beach, tech entrepreneur John Marshall built an elementary school that is expanding into a middle and soon a high school, called BaseCamp305, that he says instills an entrepreneurial spirit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“I always liked to run,” Rush said of her elementary school days.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

"He had not taken... an elementary precaution of strapping the crane boom down separately."

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Her daughter’s elementary school once ran the cleaning-supplies budget dry before year-end, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Parents of a friend in Farmer’s advanced elementary school class introduced P.J. to Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Vocabulary lists containing elementary

Animal Farm

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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1

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'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day

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