secondary

[ sek-uhn-der-ee ]

/ ˈsɛk ənˌdɛr i /

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See synonyms for: secondary / secondaries on Thesaurus.com

adjective

next after the first in order, place, time, etc.

belonging or pertaining to a second order, division, stage, period, rank, grade, etc.

dependent on or generated by something more basic; derivative.

(in scholarly studies) pertaining to or being a derived or derivative account, an evaluation of original data, etc.; not primary or original, as in secondary source; secondary research.

of minor or lesser importance; subordinate; auxiliary.

of or relating to secondary schools.

Chemistry.

involving or obtained by the replacement of two atoms or groups.
noting or containing a carbon atom united to two other carbon atoms in a chain or ring molecule.

Electricity. noting or pertaining to the current induced by a primary winding or to the winding in which the current is induced in an induction coil, transformer, or the like.

Geology. noting or pertaining to a mineral produced from another mineral by decay, alteration, or the like.

Grammar.

(of a derivative) having a root or other unanalyzable element that is itself a word or free form: The word “glazier” is a secondary derivative formed by adding a suffix to “glaze.” The word "debatably" is formed directly from "debatable" and is therefore a secondary derivative from "debate."
having reference to past time; noting or pertaining to a past tense: the Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit secondary tenses.Compare primary (def. 13).

Ornithology. pertaining to any of a set of flight feathers on the second segment of a bird's wing.

Linguistics. of, relating to, or characteristic of a secondary accent: secondary stress.

noun, plural sec·ond·ar·ies.

a person or thing that is secondary.

a subordinate, assistant, deputy, or agent.

Electricity. a winding in a transformer or the like in which a current is induced by a primary winding.

Ornithology. a secondary feather.

Football. the defensive unit that lines up behind the linemen.

Linguistics. secondary accent.

OTHER WORDS FOR secondary

5 subsidiary, supplementary, backup.

See synonyms for secondary on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of secondary

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word secundārius.See second¹, -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM secondary

sec·ond·ar·i·ly

[sek-uhn-der-uh-lee, sek-uhn-dair-], /ˈsɛk ənˌdɛr ə li, ˌsɛk ənˈdɛər-/, adverbsec·ond·ar·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use secondary in a sentence

Those “secondary structures” can make some RNAs more fragile than others.
Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold|Tina Hesman Saey|November 20, 2020|Science News
Early adoption is also found in uses in which the harder technical or social problems are secondary, or, at least, the challenges make fewer people nervous.
The promise of the fourth industrial revolution|Jason Sparapani|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
He’s somebody that has great potential as a wing, secondary playmaker.
Wizards opt for versatility with Israel’s Deni Avdija at No. 9 pick|Ava Wallace|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
The Seahawks entered the season thinking they had a talented secondary, but injuries have limited cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin, Quinton Dunbar and Ugo Amadi, along with star safety Jamal Adams, the team’s major trade acquisition.
Drew Brees still rules the NFC South, and more NFL Week 9 takeaways|John Clayton|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

The Virginia Tech football team has been playing with a patchwork secondary because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, injuries and off-the-field issues, leading opponents to target the Hokies in the passing game, particularly on deep throws.
Virginia Tech defense willing to give up rushing yards to avoid big passing plays|Gene Wang|October 28, 2020|Washington Post
The gains are captured by the immigrants themselves, and secondarily by more affluent Americans.
Heritage Immigration Study Gets the Big Things Right|David Frum|May 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The nature of the vegetation of any tract depends on rainfall and temperature, and only secondarily on soil.
The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir|Sir James McCrone Douie
A thing may come under the contemplative life in two ways: either primarily, or secondarily—that is, dispositively.
On Prayer and The Contemplative Life|St. Thomas Aquinas
They are only secondarily, if at all, instruments for dealing with new and perplexing social situations.
The Behavior of Crowds|Everett Dean Martin
The tonal accents, which were only secondarily stress phenomena, helped to give the syllable its quantitative individuality.
Language|Edward Sapir
It has little value, as these stamps were made for the purpose of selling to collectors primarily, and for postal use secondarily.
Harper's Round Table, August 20, 1895|Various

British Dictionary definitions for secondary

secondary

/ (ˈsɛkəndərɪ, -drɪ) /

adjective

one grade or step after the first; not primary

derived from or depending on what is primary, original, or firsta secondary source

below the first in rank, importance, etc; not of major importance

(prenominal) of or relating to the education of young people between the ages of 11 and 18secondary education

(of the flight feathers of a bird's wing) growing from the ulna

being the part of an electric circuit, such as a transformer or induction coil, in which a current is induced by a changing current in a neighbouring coila secondary coil
(of a current) flowing in such a circuitCompare primary (def. 7)

(of an industry) involving the manufacture of goods from raw materialsCompare primary (def. 8b), tertiary (def. 2)

geology (of minerals) formed by the alteration of pre-existing minerals

chem

(of an organic compound) having a functional group attached to a carbon atom that is attached to one hydrogen atom and two other groups
(of an amine) having only two organic groups attached to a nitrogen atom; containing the group NH
(of a salt) derived from a tribasic acid by replacement of two acidic hydrogen atoms with metal atoms or electropositive groups

linguistics

derived from a word that is itself a derivation from another word. Thus, lovably comes from lovable and is a secondary derivative from love
(of a tense in Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit) another word for historic (def. 3)

noun plural -aries

a person or thing that is secondary

a subordinate, deputy, or inferior

a secondary coil, winding, inductance, or current in an electric circuit

ornithol any of the flight feathers that grow from the ulna of a bird's wingSee primary (def. 6)

astronomy a celestial body that orbits around a specified primary bodythe moon is the secondary of the earth

med a cancerous growth in some part of the body away from the site of the original tumour

American football

the secondary cornerbacks and safeties collectively
their area in the field

short for secondary colour

Derived forms of secondary

secondarily, adverbsecondariness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for secondary

secondary

[ sĕk′ən-dĕr′ē ]

Relating to a secondary color.

Relating to or derived from either of the lateral meristems (the cork cambium or the vascular cambium) of vascular plants. For example, secondary xylem in a stem is produced by the vascular cambium, as opposed to primary xylem produced by the apical meristem during the original growth of the stem from a seedling. See also secondary growth.

Relating to or having a carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms in a molecule.
Relating to an organic molecule, such as an alcohol, in which the functional group is attached to a secondary carbon.

Relating to a medical condition that arises as a result of another disorder, disease process, or injury. Compare primary tertiary.

secondary

OTHER WORDS FOR secondary

Origin of secondary

OTHER WORDS FROM secondary

Words related to secondary

How to use secondary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for secondary

Derived forms of secondary

Scientific definitions for secondary