Meaning of secondary in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈsɛkənˌdɛri/

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   UK accent

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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

See also

• inessential
• unoriginal