fundamentally

fundamentally — adverb

1. in a way that relates to the most basic or essential qualities of something, so

1.adverbB2
Definition

in a way that relates to the most basic or essential qualities of something, so that the change or difference affects its whole nature

Example

The internet has fundamentally changed how people work and share information.

collocation: fundamentally changed

Anya and Liam held fundamentally different views on how to solve the problem.

collocation: fundamentally different

Common collocations
  • fundamentally changed
  • fundamentally different
  • fundamentally flawed
  • fundamentally opposed
  • fundamentally altered
  • fundamentally wrong
Synonyms
  • essentially

    more neutral and slightly less emphatic; focuses on the core nature rather than deep structural change

  • basically

    more informal and commonly used in conversation; can sound less precise

  • radically

    emphasizes extreme or thorough change; stronger in tone than fundamentally

  • inherently

    focuses on qualities that are a permanent part of something's nature; less about change and more about inbuilt character

Antonyms
  • superficially

    describes a shallow or surface-level way of considering something, opposite of going to the core

  • slightly

    describes a small or insignificant degree of change, opposite of deep or thorough change

Grammar Patterns

fundamentally + adjective (different, opposed, flawed)

fundamentally + verb (changed, altered, shifted)

Usage Note

Can appear before the word it modifies (fundamentally different, fundamentally changed) or at the end of a clause (the situation changed fundamentally). Also common as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause: Fundamentally, the problem is about trust.

Word family

  • fundamental
    adjectiveB2
  • fundamentals
    noun (plural)B2
  • fundamentalism
    nounC1
  • fundamentalist
    nounC1
  • fundamentalist
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four adverbs all describe something at a deep level, but they differ in emphasis and register. Essentially is neutral and common in both writing and speech, pointing to the core nature without implying dramatic change — "The two plans are essentially the same." Basically is more informal and often used in conversation to simplify a complex idea — "Basically, we ran out of time." Radically is stronger than fundamentally, suggesting extreme or complete transformation — "The new policy radically changed the company's direction." Inherently focuses on qualities that are built into something's very nature, rather than on change — "The system is inherently unstable." Fundamentally sits between essentially and radically: like essentially it refers to the core, but like radically it often describes significant change or deep difference.

essentially ↗basically ↗radicallyinherently ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite fundamentally
  • so fundamentally
  • truly fundamentally

Phrases

  • fundamentally at odds
  • fundamentally different from
  • fundamentally the same as

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Fundamentally comes from the Latin word fundamentum, meaning 'foundation' or 'base', which itself comes from fundus ('bottom'). The word travelled through Late Latin fundamentalis into English, where it has been used since the 1600s to describe ideas or changes that affect the very foundation or core of something.