fundamentals
n. C / Un. the basic and most important parts of a subject or activity. You need to learn these first before you can do more difficult things.
n. the essential primary principles or rules that serve as the foundation of a system, subject, or activity. In a financial context, refers to the underlying economic factors that determine the value of an asset.
You must master the fundamentals of grammar first.
Despite the market's daily price swings, the company's strong fundamentals suggest it will be successful in the long term.
While the athlete possessed raw talent, his coach insisted on a rigorous return to the fundamentals of footwork and balance to ensure his performance remained consistent under pressure.
Almost always used in the plural form when referring to basic principles or economic indicators.