secondary

1 of 2

adjective

sec·​ond·​ary ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē 

1

a

: of second rank, importance, or value

b

: of, relating to, or constituting the second strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists

the fourth syllable of basketball team carries secondary stress

c

of a tense : expressive of past time

2

a

: immediately derived from something original, primary, or basic

b

: of, relating to, or being the induced current or its circuit in an induction coil or transformer

secondary voltage

c

: characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule

a secondary salt

especially : being, characterized by, or attached to a carbon atom having bonds to two other carbon atoms

d(1)

: not first in order of occurrence or development

(2)

: dependent or consequent on another disease or condition

secondary hypertension

(3)

: produced by activity of formative tissue and especially cambium other than that at a growing point

secondary growth

secondary phloem

3

a

: of, relating to, or being the second order or stage in a series

b

: of, relating to, or being the second segment of the wing of a bird or the quills of this segment

c

: of or relating to a secondary school

secondary education

secondarily

ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

secondariness

ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs 

noun

secondary

2 of 2

noun

plural secondaries

1

: one occupying a subordinate or auxiliary position rather than that of a principal

2

: a defensive football backfield

3

: the coil through which the secondary current passes in an induction coil or transformer

called also secondary coil

4

: any of the quill feathers of the forearm of a bird see wing illustration

Synonyms

Adjective

• derivative
• secondhand

Examples of secondary in a Sentence

Adjective

Winning is secondary—we play for the fun of the sport.

There are some secondary issues which must be taken into account as well.

I want a car that's reliable; the color is of secondary importance.

The secondary roads are indicated on the map with a green line.

Better gas mileage is a secondary benefit of reduced speed limits.

Noun

The team has a strong secondary.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But few buyers are making desktop gaming a primary or even secondary reason for buying any Mac. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

The Ravens have needed secondary help, especially given their injuries. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

Flashback: In January, it was discovered that one of Carta's salesmen on the secondaries side crossed what should've been an invisible wall, using confidential customer data from the mothership. —Lucinda Shen, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Moore isn’t complaining either, but the Bears’ plan to spread out an Arizona secondary that’s super thin at cornerback failed miserably for a lot of reasons. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing secondary

• secondary care
• secondary cell
• secondary color
• secondary emission
• secondary radiation
• secondary road
• secondary root
• secondary school
• secondary sex characteristic
• secondary source
• secondary syphilis

Kids Definition

secondary

1 of 2 adjective

sec·​ond·​ary ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē 

1

a

: of second rank, importance, or value

secondary considerations

b

: of, relating to, or being the second strongest of the three or four levels of stress

the last syllable of "refrigerate" has secondary stress

2

a

: coming from something original or basic

b

: of, relating to, or being the current created by a change in the primary current or the circuit of the created current in an induction coil or transformer

a secondary coil

secondary voltage

3

a

: of, relating to, or being a second rank or grade in a series

b

: of or relating to a secondary school

secondarily

ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē

adverb

secondary

2 of 2 noun

plural secondaries

1

: the defensive football players who line up behind the line of scrimmage

2

: any of the quill feathers attached to the ulna of the wing of a bird

3

: the coil through which the secondary current passes in an induction coil or transformer

called also secondary coil

Medical Definition

secondary

adjective

sec·​ond·​ary ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē 

1

: not first in order of occurrence or development: as

a

: dependent or consequent on another disease

secondary diabetes

Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever

b

: occurring or being in the second stage

secondary symptoms of syphilis

c

: occurring some time after the original injury

a secondary hemorrhage

2

: characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule

a secondary salt

especially : being, characterized by, or attached to a carbon atom having bonds to two other carbon atoms

3

: relating to or being the three-dimensional coiling of the polypeptide chain of a protein especially in the form of an alpha-helix compare primary entry 1 sense 4, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c

secondarily

ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

secondary

adjective

sec·​ond·​ary ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē 

1

: of second rank, status, importance, or value

2

: derived from something original or primary

3

: of, relating to, or being the second order or stage in a series

secondarily

ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

secondariness

ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs 

noun