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.

That includes Liguori Academy, a high school that offers building trades training, and St. Francis de Sales, a Catholic elementary school.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 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

As an advocate for the local library told me, by the next day, all the children at the local elementary school had heard about Gamble.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

But this district — with seven elementary and two middle schools — is enduring a crippling strike, affecting about 3,400 students drawn from Santa Fe Springs and parts of Norwalk and Downey.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

I turn it off when the elementary school comes into view.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

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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