elementary
- 01 B1 Intermediate
relating to the most basic or important parts of a subject.
pertaining to the fundamental or essential aspects of a system or field of study.
Simple“The course covers the elementary principles of economics for new students.”
In context“A thorough understanding of these elementary concepts is vital before moving on to the more nuanced theories of quantum mechanics.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
very easy to do or understand.
straightforward and requiring only basic skills or knowledge to resolve.
Simple“The mistake was so elementary that even a beginner would have noticed it.”
In context“The detective dismissed the clue as an elementary attempt to mislead the investigation, noting its lack of sophistication.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
relating to the first years of a child's education.
pertaining to the initial stages of formal education, typically for children between the ages of five and eleven.
Simple“She has been an elementary school teacher for over twenty years.”
In context“The district is proposing a significant increase in funding for elementary education to reduce average class sizes in the early grades.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
describing the simplest parts of matter that cannot be broken down further.
relating to or being an irreducible constituent of a physical system, such as a chemical element or a subatomic particle.
Simple“An electron is an elementary particle because it is not made of smaller parts.”
In context“The laboratory focuses on the interactions between elementary particles, seeking to understand the forces that govern the subatomic world.”
Usage elementary school
“Iowa, for example, passed a law that limited digital instruction for elementary students.”
“Children ages 6-11, in the early elementary years, are still developing socially.”
From Middle English elementare, from Latin elementārius (“elementary”), from elementum (“one of the four elements of antiquity; fundamentals”) + -ārius (adjective-forming suffix). Cognate with French élémentaire. By surface analysis, element + -ary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.