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

Explanation

A primer gets you ready for what comes next. You could use one kind of primer when you are learning to read, or another kind when you are preparing to paint a room. Any way you use the word primer, it's a first step or preparation for something else. There's primer you use before painting, and an engine primer that prepares a machine to be started. In these examples, primer rhymes with timer. When primer describes an introductory textbook, it rhymes with dimmer. In the 14th century, a primer was a prayer book. This word comes from primus, the Latin word for first.

Example Sentences

Consider a Primer school in Miami’s Liberty City, where students gather on the first floor of a residential building for seniors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Primer, who has worked in student nutrition within California's public school system for 10 years, applied for grant funding from the state to kick off the curriculum, and got it.

From Salon • Oct. 16, 2024

A competitor, Primer AI, lists two unnamed intelligence agencies among its customers — which include military services, documents posted online for recent military AI workshops show.

From Seattle Times • May 23, 2024

An article in Nature Reviews Methods Primer now provides a guide to freeze-casting methods that includes an overview on current and future applications and highlights characterization techniques with a focus on X-ray tomoscopy.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

Little Lois bit her tongue and studied her New England Primer.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham