sec·ond·ary
ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē 
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
plural secondaries
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 in a Sentence
Adjective
Winning is secondary—we play for the fun of the sport.
There are some secondary issues which must be taken into account as well.
I want a car that's reliable; the color is of secondary importance.
The secondary roads are indicated on the map with a green line.
Better gas mileage is a secondary benefit of reduced speed limits.
Noun
The team has a strong secondary.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
This is a huge hit to the Dolphins' secondary, as Duck had just made his way back from an ankle injury that kept him out for six games previously.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Bad center snaps, dropped passes, pre-snap penalties, gaffes by the defensive secondary.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Corcoran played a secondary but significant role in the first Terrifier film, which was released in 2016.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
This is a huge hit to the Dolphins' secondary, as Duck had just made his way back from an ankle injury that kept him out for six games previously.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Buffalo is a strong candidate to add a wide receiver ahead of the deadline, while the secondary is also an issue with deficiencies at both cornerback and safety.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Bad center snaps, dropped passes, pre-snap penalties, gaffes by the defensive secondary.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Cite this Entry
“Secondary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondary. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
secondary
1 of 2 adjective
sec·ond·ary
ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē
1
a
: of second rank, importance, or value
secondary considerations
b
: of, relating to, or being the second strongest of the three or four levels of stress
the last syllable of "refrigerate" has secondary stress
2
a
: coming from something original or basic
b
: of, relating to, or being the current created by a change in the primary current or the circuit of the created current in an induction coil or transformer
a secondary coil
secondary voltage
3
a
: of, relating to, or being a second rank or grade in a series
b
: of or relating to a secondary school
secondarily
adverb
ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē
secondary
2 of 2 noun
plural secondaries
1
: the defensive football players who line up behind the line of scrimmage
2
: any of the quill feathers attached to the ulna of the wing of a bird
3
: the coil through which the secondary current passes in an induction coil or transformer
called also secondary coil
Medical Definition
secondary
adjective
sec·ond·ary
ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē
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 entry 1 sense 4, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c
Legal Definition
secondary
adjective
sec·ond·ary
ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē
1
: of second rank, status, importance, or value
2
: derived from something original or primary
3
: of, relating to, or being the second order or stage in a series
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