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.

Cynthia Kuo, a 29-year-old elementary school teacher, said Trump was the "kind of person who just says whatever pops into his head."

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Clark attended an elementary and a middle school in person at the district, but following the pandemic his family enrolled him online schooling full time, Canning said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Physicists have traditionally sorted all elementary particles in our three-dimensional universe into two categories: bosons and fermions.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

I grew up Missouri Synod Lutheran, went to a Lutheran elementary school, public, middle school and high school, but definitely the Bible and family worship were central to my upbringing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

It’s not that I hate doing anything active, but in elementary school, PE meant going out on the blacktop in your regular clothes and playing softball or capture the flag.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

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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