secondary

¹sec·ond·ary

adj \ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē\

Definition of SECONDARY

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>

— sec·ond·ar·i·ly \ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē\ adverb

— sec·ond·ar·i·ness \ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs\ noun

Examples of SECONDARY

1. Winning is secondary—we play for the fun of the sport.
2. There are some secondary issues which must be taken into account as well.
3. I want a car that's reliable; the color is of secondary importance.
4. The secondary roads are indicated on the map with a green line.
5. Better gas mileage is a secondary benefit of reduced speed limits.

First Known Use of SECONDARY

14th century

Related to SECONDARY

Synonyms: derivative, secondhand

Antonyms: basic, original

Related Words: unoriginal; consequent, resultant

Near Antonyms: fundamental, nonderivative; first, primary

see all synonyms and antonyms

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