fundamentally

[fuhn-duh-men-tl-ee]

adverb

1. in a fundamental and essential way; centrally and foundationally.

   a nine-point plan that will fundamentally transform our system of eldercare.

2. as regards the basic nature, character, or truth of something; basically and often emphatically.

   Fundamentally, they just want their independence.

Other Word Forms

• nonfundamentally adverb
• unfundamentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fundamentally¹

First recorded in 1600–20; fundamental ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

And where the earlier shows, notwithstanding soap operatic long arcs, are fundamentally episodic, “Tony & Ziva” is a serial story, stretched over 10 episodes.

From Los Angeles Times

I get chatting to Ilya, who claims that war in Ukraine hasn't fundamentally changed his life in Russia.

From BBC

Without judicial oversight and ethical military commanders willing to resist unconstitutional orders, nothing prevents the establishment of a national police force that would fundamentally transform American democracy into an authoritarian system.

From Los Angeles Times

In response to Apple's criticisms, the CMA wrote that UK competition rules work in a fundamentally different way to the EU:

From BBC

Some players are so fundamentally impressive and dangerous that opponents crowd around them in greater numbers and Everton's number 18 is one of those.

From BBC