Element — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈe-lə-mənt/ el·e·ment

Meaning & Definition of Element

Element (noun)

  1. any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe
  2. weather conditions; especially, violent or severe weather
  3. the state or sphere natural or suited to a person or thing

Element (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one of the parts that make up a whole

    "a free press is an essential element of a democracy"

    similar: building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, member
    related: basis, part and parcel, detail, item, particular, point, aspect, characteristic, facet, feature, trait, division, fragment, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, sector, segment, subcomponent
    opposite: whole
    near: aggregate, composite, compound, mass, entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, admixture, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combination, intermixture, mix, mixture

  2. general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based

    "the elements of mathematics can be traced back to Euclid"

    similar: ABC(s), alphabet, basics, essentials, fundamentals, grammar, principles, rudiments
    related: basis, bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, groundwork, keystone, underpinning, nitty-gritty, belief, canon, doctrine, dogma, faith, philosophy, axiom, law, precept, tenet, rule, standard, theorem
    near: details, trivia

  3. a region of activity, knowledge, or influence

    "she felt a bit out of her element in the mathematics section of the exam"

    similar: area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, fief, fiefdom, field, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk
    related: frontier, study, subject, territory, turf, occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation, ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width, subfield, subspecialty

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Element

The most common words with a similar meaning to Element:

building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, member, ABC(s), alphabet, basics, essentials, fundamentals, grammar, principles, rudiments, area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, fief, fiefdom, field, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Element

Words with the opposite meaning of Element:

whole

Related Words for Element

basis, part and parcel, detail, item, particular, point, aspect, characteristic, facet, feature, trait, division, fragment, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, sector, segment, subcomponent, bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, groundwork, keystone, underpinning, nitty-gritty, belief, canon

Near Antonyms of Element

aggregate, composite, compound, mass, entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, admixture, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combination, intermixture, mix, mixture, details, trivia

Origin & Etymology of Element

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin elementum

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Element

Words & Phrases Containing Element

element of surprise, identity element, minor element, rare earth element, trace element, transposable element, in one's element, out of one's element

Frequently Asked Questions about Element

What does "Element" mean?

"Element" means any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe. As a noun, it is defined as: any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Element"?

Other words for "Element" include building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, member, ABC(s) and alphabet. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Element" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Element"?

There are 104 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Element". Common alternatives include building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, member, ABC(s), alphabet, basics and essentials.

What is the opposite of "Element"?

Antonyms of "Element" include whole. Near antonyms include aggregate, composite, compound and mass.

How do you use "Element" in a sentence?

Examples of "Element" in a sentence: "a free press is an essential element of a democracy"; "the elements of mathematics can be traced back to Euclid"; "she felt a bit out of her element in the mathematics section of the exam".

Is "Element" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Element" is a noun.

Is "Element" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Element" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Element"?

"Element" is pronounced /ˈe-lə-mənt/ and divided into syllables as el·e·ment.