primer

1 of 2

noun (1)

prim·​er ˈpri-mər 

 chiefly British  ˈprī-mə

1

: a small book for teaching children to read

2

: a small introductory book on a subject

3

: a short informative piece of writing

primer

2 of 2

noun (2)

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

1

: a device for priming

especially : a cap, tube, or wafer containing percussion powder or compound used to ignite an explosive charge

2

: material used in priming a surface

called also prime coat

3

: a molecule (such as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (such as a longer chain of DNA)

Did you know?

Primers were once a standard part of every child's education. The first primer printed in North America, The New England Primer (ca. 1690), was typical; it contained many quotations from the Bible and many moral lessons, and the text was accompanied by numerous woodcut illustrations. We no longer use the word in early education, but it's widely used in everyday speech. Notice how primer is pronounced; don't mix it up with the kind of paint that's pronounced with a long *i *sound.

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• handbook
• manual
• textbook
• text

Examples of primer in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a primer of human anatomy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here is my in-depth primer on the NFL on television this season, including what’s on each network and streaming service, what’s new and announcer changes. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025

Touted as a moisturizer-primer hybrid, this formula works seamlessly under makeup and layers well with the rest of your skin-care routine. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2025

The film is filled to the brim with real people and incidents, providing an entertaining primer to explain how a former Communist country was transformed into a cutthroat capitalist regime ruled by an authoritarian modeling himself on Stalin. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025

McKinsey offers this good primer. —Sumera Riaz, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, "layperson's prayer book," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmārius, prīmārium, noun derivatives from masculine and neuter of prīmārius "lying at the beginning, primary entry 1"

Noun (2)

prime entry 3 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for primer

• climber
• dimer
• eimer
• rhymer
• timer
• alzheimer
• heterodimer

Kids Definition

primer

1 of 2 noun

prim·​er ˈprim-ər 

 especially British  ˈprī-mər

1

: a small book for teaching children to read

2

: a book that introduces a subject

a primer of chemistry

3

: a short informative piece of writing

a primer on healthy eating

primer

2 of 2 noun

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

1

: a device (as a cap or tube) containing a small explosive charge that is used for setting off a larger explosive charge (as in a cartridge)

2

: material used in priming a surface

Medical Definition

primer

noun

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

: a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)