ELEMENTARY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

elementary

adjective

ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tə-rē

Definition of elementary

as in basic

of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject students who do not have even an elementary knowledge of geography

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of elementary Iowa, for example, passed a law that limited digital instruction for elementary students. — Janice Mak, Fortune, 31 July 2026 After leaving the industry, Smith received a master’s degree and taught music to elementary students in New York City. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026 Instead, elementary students can use shared classroom devices, and families can then opt in for take-home devices in older grades. — Janice Mak, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 But now the Orange County School Board is poised to ban e-bikes and e-scooters from elementary and middle school campuses and allow them only at high schools, and only if the student has a driver’s license. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for elementary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elementary

Adjective

Closure of the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas once passed, has driven up the price of fuel and basic goods far beyond the region, roiling the global economy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
That said, meeting the basic standard for forgiveness also involves satisfying several other important requirements, too.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of basic

Adjective

Snail Mucin When K-beauty broke into the US market in 2016, snail mucin was the introductory ingredient that got everyone hooked.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Predictably, Brees faced immediate questions about that shoulder at his introductory news conference for the Saints.

— Larry Holder, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of introductory

Adjective

Through the mid-1980s, Wolfram continued this work, discovering a number of fundamental connections between computation and nature, and inventing such concepts as computational irreducibility.

— Big Think, Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026
Bringing in overseas talent into New Zealand to boost local artists numbers has been fundamental to our approach ever since.

— Geoffrey Bunting, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2026