secondary source
noun
plural secondary sources
information science
: an article, report, etc. that is based on firsthand accounts or records of a thing being researched or studied but that is not itself a firsthand account
Primary sources are the raw materials of history—original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place.—
Library of Congress
Library of CongressIf you've attended one of my genealogy classes, you've heard the terms primary source and secondary source bandied about. Primary sources are those records that were created at or very near the time of the event, by someone who attended the event or had first-hand knowledge of the event. Secondary sources are records that are more removed from the event.—Larry Van Horn
Larry Van HornThe news media outlets' political affiliation was determined by examining each paper's website and secondary sources that described each affiliation.—Kenzie Hanson and Alexandra Lysova
Kenzie Hanson and Alexandra LysovaExamples of secondary source in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The class will include information on vital records, primary and secondary sources, and how to interpret census, naturalization, and military draft registration data.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
The group has conducted extensive research using primary and secondary sources.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 July 2024
For single parents with kids at home and no secondary source of income, saving money can provide some peace of mind to know they are cared for regardless of what happens.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 July 2024
This is a great time to remind students of the difference between primary and secondary sources.
—Nicole Donawho, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2024
Based mostly on secondary sources, this book examines Stalin’s intellectual pursuits in the context of major episodes in Soviet history.
—Maria Lipman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
And voting rights activists claim that the secondary sources SB 189 specifies include swaths of unreliable data.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 10 May 2024
When a potential juror skipped court to visit the Dominican Republic last year, Glanville ordered them to write a 30-page essay in APA style, with primary and secondary sources.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Ever since the boom of the side hustle, freelancing, or gig economy within recent years since the pandemic, holding down an alternative or secondary source of supplementary income has become the norm.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
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Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
The group has conducted extensive research using primary and secondary sources.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 July 2024
For single parents with kids at home and no secondary source of income, saving money can provide some peace of mind to know they are cared for regardless of what happens.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 July 2024
This is a great time to remind students of the difference between primary and secondary sources.
—Nicole Donawho, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2024
Based mostly on secondary sources, this book examines Stalin’s intellectual pursuits in the context of major episodes in Soviet history.
—Maria Lipman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
And voting rights activists claim that the secondary sources SB 189 specifies include swaths of unreliable data.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 10 May 2024
When a potential juror skipped court to visit the Dominican Republic last year, Glanville ordered them to write a 30-page essay in APA style, with primary and secondary sources.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Ever since the boom of the side hustle, freelancing, or gig economy within recent years since the pandemic, holding down an alternative or secondary source of supplementary income has become the norm.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near secondary source
Cite this Entry
“Secondary source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondary%20source. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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