Nonfundamental
Nonfundamental is an adjective used to describe something that is not foundational or essential to the core structure of a system, theory, or object. The term is applied across disciplines to distinguish fundamental, core elements from auxiliary, derived, or subordinate ones. Because it is a relative designation, its precise meaning depends on the field and context.
In science and mathematics, nonfundamental quantities or components are typically those that can be derived from
In signal processing and acoustics, nonfundamental often refers to frequency components that are not the fundamental
In philosophy and theory-building, nonfundamental explanations or properties describe phenomena that do not address the underlying
Etymology-wise, the prefix non- means “not,” and fundamental derives from a base or foundation. Some fields prefer
See also: fundamental, emergent property, harmonic, overtones, primary vs secondary.