primary root
noun
: the root of a plant that develops first and originates from the radicle see seedling illustration
Examples of primary root in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This catastrophe, which has killed hundreds of thousands, has one primary root cause, and that is the Russian president himself.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025
For some time now, it’s been established that the primary root of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is airborne.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 May 2022
The primary root cause of humanitarian migration from Central America is the U.S. government.
—Felipe De La Hoz, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2021
Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant that is often used by biologists for plant research, is the star of this video by Daniel von Wangenheim, which shows a new root growing laterally off a primary root.
—Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025
For some time now, it’s been established that the primary root of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is airborne.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 May 2022
The primary root cause of humanitarian migration from Central America is the U.S. government.
—Felipe De La Hoz, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2021
Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant that is often used by biologists for plant research, is the star of this video by Daniel von Wangenheim, which shows a new root growing laterally off a primary root.
—Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Primary root.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary%20root. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share