ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fundamentalist

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˌfəndəˈmɛnəɫɪst// UK //fˌʌndəmˈɛntəlˌɪst// fun·da·men·tal·ist Vulgar

n. someone who follows the basic rules of their religion or beliefs very strictly. They usually believe that their holy books are completely true and should not be changed.

n. an adherent of a movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles and rigid adherence to basic tenets. Often carries a pejorative connotation when used by outsiders to describe religious or political extremism.


SIMPLE

The fundamentalist refused to accept any changes to the ancient laws.

CONTEXTUAL

Sociologists studied how the fundamentalist group maintained its strict social boundaries in a rapidly modernizing city.

Synonyms
Origin

From fundamental + -ist, after a book series called “The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth“ (1910).

Usage

Often functions as a modifier before another noun (e.g., 'fundamentalist views').

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