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Definition of rudimentary

rudimentary

/ˌruː.dɪˈmɛn.tə.ri/
ru · di · men · ta · ry
Adverb:rudimentarily
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rudimentary Lexical Profile

rudimentary Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Involving or limited to basic principles; foundational and elementary.

Example

"Before traveling abroad, he acquired a rudimentary knowledge of the local language."

2

Relating to an immature, undeveloped, or primitive form or stage of something.

Example

"The early settlers built rudimentary shelters out of timber and mud to survive the first winter."

3

Designating an organ or biological part that is incompletely developed or exists only in a vestigial, nonfunctional form.

Example

"Certain species of flightless beetles possess only rudimentary wings beneath their hardened wing covers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for rudimentary

• Nearby Words

rudice falls
rudiment
rudimentarily
rudimentary
rudy
rue
rueful

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from the noun 'rudiment', which derives from Latin 'rudimentum' (early training or first experience), itself rooted in 'rudis' meaning 'unwrought, rough, or unlearned'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rudimentary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rudimentary
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