secondary

¹sec·ond·ary

adjective \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

²secondary

noun

plural secondar·ies

Definition of SECONDARY

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

Examples of SECONDARY

1. The team has a strong secondary.

First Known Use of SECONDARY

15th century

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, ultimate

sec·ond·ary

adjective \ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SECONDARY

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 4, tertiary 2c

—sec·ond·ari·ly \ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb