primary

1 of 2

adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē 

ˈprī-mə-rē,

ˈprīm-rē 

1

: first in order of time or development : primitive

the primary stage of civilization

the primary lesion of a disease

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value : principal

the primary purpose

b

: basic, fundamental

security is a primary need

c

: of, relating to, or constituting the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing

d

: of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products

e

: expressive of present or future time

primary tense

f

: of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists

the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress

3

a

: direct, firsthand

primary sources of information

b

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

c

: preparatory to something else in a continuing process

primary instruction

d

: of or relating to a primary school

primary education

e

: of or relating to a primary election

a primary candidate

f

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

g

: directly derived from ores

primary metals

h

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

4

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

a primary amine

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

5

: of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem

primary tissue

primary growth

6

: of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants

primary productivity

7

: providing primary care

a primary physician

primary

2 of 2

noun

plural primaries

1

: something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental

—usually used in plural

2

: the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve

especially : the more massive usually brighter component of a binary star system

3

: one of the usually 9 or 10 strong flight feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing see wing illustration

4

a

: primary color

b

: the sensation of seeing primary colors

5

a

: caucus

b

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention

6

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

Synonyms

Adjective

• arch
• big
• capital
• cardinal
• central
• chief
• dominant
• first
• foremost
• grand
• great
• greatest
• highest
• key
• leading
• main
• master
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• overbearing
• overmastering
• overriding
• paramount
• predominant
• preeminent
• premier
• primal
• principal
• prior
• sovereign
• sovran
• supreme

Example Sentences

Adjective

The economy was the primary focus of the debate.

The family is the primary social unit of human life.

The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.

We just started our primary flight training.

The book is based mainly on primary sources rather than secondary sources.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The primary goal is to foster inclusivity within communities by facilitating conversations that challenge and dispel stigmas and stereotypes. —Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2023

Argentina's monthly inflation rate likely sped back up to 7.1% in July, a Reuters poll of analysts showed, a blow for the ruling Peronist coalition, which is battling to avoid defeat by the conservative opposition in primary elections on Sunday. —Fox News, 11 Aug. 2023

Highlights include a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen with a glassy center island and a swanky primary suite with a gas fireplace and private terrace. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2023

Robbie Robertson:Robbie Robertson, The Band's lead guitarist and primary songwriter, dies at 80 The show must go on:Beyoncé's tour paid $100,000 to keep trains running after lightning threat at DC show Subscribe to app.com for the latest on Bruce Springsteen and the New Jersey music scene. —Chris Jordan, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023

The primary ingredients in beer are barley and hops, the production of which are both mainly concentrated in the western and northwestern regions of the U.S. —Tony Rehagen, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2023

The 504-square-foot primary suite on the main floor has a sitting area with a gas fireplace and access to the patio, saltwater pool and spa. —Jeastman, oregonlive, 10 Aug. 2023

In the primary bedroom, Linda added abstract motifs in the drapery in lieu of artwork since there was a lack of wall space to hang art. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023

The campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose standing in GOP primary polls has been dropping, criticized the spending. —Mario Parker Bloomberg News (tns), Arkansas Online, 31 July 2023

Noun

Trump’s advisers are aware the indictments may be less helpful to him politically in a general election than in a primary. —Jonathan Swan, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2023

Another seemingly unexpected scenario would be a Rodríguez Larreta victory in the opposition primaries. —Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023

Former President Donald Trump, the current front-runner in the GOP primary, is attending the fair on Saturday as well but won't participate in a discussion with Reynolds. —Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2023

Annie Zhao Special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday recommended that former President Donald Trump stand trial in Washington on Jan. 2, 2024, two weeks before the first votes in the Republican presidential primary will be cast in Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucuses. —Deborah Acosta, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2023

In each of the races, there will be a runoff in November between the top two finishers in the March primary regardless of whether a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in March. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023

Now, with the return to big social events, global travel and office life, the question is how much New York will recede or resurge in its historic dominance as the primary/work/school destination of the three-legged social circuit, and what the rhythms of the seasons will look like. —Amanda Gordon, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2023

The deadline to file for the May 14 primary in Maryland is Feb. 9. —Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 7 Aug. 2023

The digital advertisements, which include short commercials on video streaming services, are part of a four-state $1 million ad buy by Americans for Prosperity Action, a group that has signaled plans to endorse someone other than Trump for the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary. —Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English primarye, primary "original, earliest," borrowed from Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station (of persons), first-rate, chief" (Late Latin, "original, lying at the beginning," Medieval Latin, "foremost, leading"), from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest, of first importance" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at prime entry 2

Noun

in part borrowed from Late Latin prīmārius "person leading, leader," noun derivative of Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station, chief, primary entry 1"; in part noun derivative of primary entry 1, or shortened from collocations with the adjective; (sense 5) shortened from primary election, earlier primary assembly, translation of French assemblée primaire

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing primary

• direct primary
• pre-primary
• primary atypical pneumonia
• primary care
• primary cell
• primary color
• primary meristem
• primary root
• primary school
• primary syphilis
• primary tooth
• primary wall

See More

• direct primary
• pre-primary
• primary atypical pneumonia
• primary care
• primary cell
• primary color
• primary meristem
• primary root
• primary school
• primary syphilis
• primary tooth
• primary wall

See More

Kids Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

: first in time or development : initial, primitive

the primary stage of a civilization

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value

our primary duties

b

: basic entry 1 sense 1, fundamental

the family is the primary unit of human association

c

: of, relating to, or being one of the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing located on the outer joint

d

: of, relating to, or being the strongest of three levels of stress in pronunciation

3

a

: not made or coming from something else : firsthand

a primary source of information

b

: of, relating to, or being the current or circuit that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: one of the usually nine or ten strong flight feathers on the outer joint of a bird's wing

2

: primary color

3

: an election in which members of a political party nominate candidates for office

4

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

Medical Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

a(1)

: first in order of time or development

(2)

: relating to or being the milk teeth and especially the 20 milk teeth in the human set

b(1)

: arising spontaneously : idiopathic

primary insomnia

the absence of any pelvic abnormality confirmed the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea

(2)

: being an initial tumor or site especially of cancer

efforts to find the primary tumor have failed

—Raphael Feinmesser

c

: providing primary care

a primary physician

2

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

3

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

4

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

compare secondary sense 3, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c

5

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

: primary color

Legal Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, -mə-rē 

1

: of first rank, value, or importance

2

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primarily

prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: caucus

2

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention