primer

¹ American  

[prim-er, prahy-mer] / ˈprɪm ər, ˈpraɪ mər /

noun

1. an elementary book for teaching children to read.

2. any book of elementary principles.

   a primer of phonetics.

3. great primer.

4. long primer.

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primer ² American  

[prahy-mer] / ˈpraɪ mər /

noun

1. a person or thing that primes.

2. a cap, cylinder, etc., containing a compound that may be exploded by percussion or other means, used for firing a charge of powder.

3. a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc., given to any surface as a base, sealer, or the like.

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primer ¹ British  

/ ˈpraɪmə /

noun

1. a person or thing that primes

2. a device, such as a tube containing explosive, for detonating the main charge in a gun, mine, etc

3. a substance, such as paint, applied to a surface as a base, sealer, etc

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primer ² British  

/ ˈpraɪmə /

noun

1. an introductory text, such as a school textbook

2. printing See long primer great primer

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Etymology

Origin of primer¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin prīmārium, noun use of neuter of prīmārius primary

Origin of primer²

1490–1500; prime (v.) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

His 2024 book, “Iran,” is the best primer available on the nation’s modern history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

In an investment primer over the summer, BofA Securities analysts dubbed the advent of quantum computing “the next fire moment,” or the biggest and most consequential technological development in hundreds of thousands of years.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Director Raoul Peck, a consistently sharp exfoliator of tricky subjects, turns his movie into both a historical primer of the author’s eventful life and a guide to recognizing tomorrow’s fascists.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

This was just a primer for the assault on the senses that is Shangri-La.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025

It’s like I’m getting a primer coat of ugly for the day.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina