One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.
What is element?
• Any one of the types of atom distinguished by having a certain number of protons in its nucleus.
• A chemical substance made entirely of one such type of atom; any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.
• One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.
• A basic, simple substance out of which something is made, raw material.
• A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded as a violation of law only if each element can be proved.
• One of the objects in a set.
• One of the entries of a matrix.
• Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.
• A small part of the whole.
• A small but present amount of a quality, a hint.
• A factor, one of the conditions contributing to a result.
• The sky.
• Any one of the heavenly spheres believed to carry the celestial bodies in premodern cosmology.
• Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.
• A place or state of being that a person or object is best suited to.
• The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.
• A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.
• The basic principles of a field of knowledge, basics, fundamentals, rudiments.
• A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.
• An infinitesimal interval of a quantity, a differential.
• An orbital element; one of the parameters needed to uniquely specify a particular orbit.
• One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by tags.
(Verb) To compound (something) out of elements.
• To constitute and be the elements of (something).
Why element matters
element appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How element works in practice
In practice, element is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.