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Meaning of secondary in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Definitions
  4. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈsɛkənˌdɛri/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    secondary

    Definitions

    1. inferior in rank or status

    Examples

    • « the junior faculty »
    • « a lowly corporal »
    • « petty officialdom »
    • « a subordinate functionary »

    Synonyms

    • junior
  2. 2. depending on or incidental to what is original or primary

    Examples

    • « a secondary infection »

    Synonyms

    • incidental
    • incident
  3. 3. not of major importance

    Examples

    • « played a secondary role in world events »

    Synonyms

    • minor
  4. 4. belonging to a lower class or rank

    Synonyms

    • subordinate
    • low-level
  5. Noun

    secondary

    Definitions

    1. the defensive football players who line up behind the linemen
  6. 2. coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil
  7. Qualitative Adjective

    secondary

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin secundarius‘of the second quality or class’, from secundus (see second)

    Definitions

    1. of second rank or importance or value

    Examples

    • « not direct or immediate »
    • « the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher »
    • « a secondary source »
    • « a secondary issue »
    • « secondary streams »

    Synonyms

    • alternate
    • alternative
    • auxiliary
    • subsidiary
    • supplemental
    • supplementary
    • collateral
    • indirect
    • secondhand
    • second-string
    • substitute(a)
    • standby
    • tributary
    • utility(a)
    • substitute(a)
    • vicarious
    • thirdhand

    Antonyms

    • primary

Famous quotes

  • « We are what our thoughts have made us so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live they travel far. »
    Swami Vivekananda
  • « I studied secondary education. »
    Jim McKay
  • « The United States is the most innovative country in the world. But our leadership could slip away if we fail to properly fund primary, secondary and higher education. »
    Jeff Bingaman
  • « Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward. »
    Thomas Merton
  • « It was during my time at secondary school that I abandoned religion. »
    Paul Nurse

See also

  • inessential
  • unoriginal

Browse dictionary

  • secondarily
  • second-year
  • second-string
  • second-sighted
  • secondary
  • secondary amenorrhea
  • secondary cell
  • secondary censorship
  • secondary coil
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