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Meaning & use

fundamental change

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌfʌndəˈmentəl tʃeɪndʒ/
US/ˌfʌndəˈmentəl tʃeɪndʒ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A very important change that affects the basic nature or structure of something.

    Grammar: Often used with 'in' or 'to': a fundamental change in policy.

    Patterns

    • a fundamental change in something
    • a fundamental change to something
    • make a fundamental change
    • undergo a fundamental change

    The company made a fundamental change to its business model after the new CEO arrived.

    There has been a fundamental change in the way people shop over the last ten years.

    The new law represents a fundamental change in how personal data is protected.

  2. nouncountable

    A complete and irreversible shift in the way something works or is understood.

    Grammar: Often used in the plural: fundamental changes are needed.

    Patterns

    • fundamental changes in something
    • require fundamental changes
    • bring about fundamental change

    Climate scientists warn that fundamental changes are needed to reduce emissions.

    The revolution brought about fundamental changes in the political system.

    Without fundamental change, the problem will only get worse.

Word forms

pluralfundamental changes

Common combinations

a fundamental change in
There has been a fundamental change in the way we communicate.
make a fundamental change
The government must make a fundamental change to its education policy.
undergo a fundamental change
The industry has undergone a fundamental change since the invention of the internet.
bring about fundamental change
The new manager brought about fundamental change in the team's working style.
fundamental change to
They proposed a fundamental change to the company's structure.

Synonyms and how they differ

radical change
Radical change emphasizes a complete departure from what existed before; fundamental change stresses that the change affects the basic nature of something.
major change
Major change is a general term for an important change; fundamental change is stronger and suggests the change goes to the very foundation.
transformation
Transformation often suggests a dramatic and complete change in form; fundamental change can be more gradual but still affects the basics.

Opposites

minor changesmall adjustment

Word family

fundamentally adverb
In a way that affects the basic nature of something: fundamentally different.
fundamental adjective
Basic and important: a fundamental principle.

Commonly confused: fundamental change or fundamentalist?

fundamental change vs fundamentalist

Fundamentalist is a noun or adjective for someone who strictly follows basic religious or political principles; it is not related to 'fundamental change' in the general sense.

Practice

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