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 of primer

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

The budget fight has sparked pointed comments in committee meetings where Tanner and Grow have offered primers to their fellow legislators about how the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee works to set the state’s budget. —Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026

Watch a members-only panel moderated by Associate Editor Emma Waldman discussing actionable money moves for the year ahead and a primer of many of the new AI tools. —Forbes Membership, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Sand away any significant staining that cannot be cleaned, then apply the blocking primer to provide a fresh base for the paint. —Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026

The pickup truck, a late 1990s to early 2000s Chevrolet single cab with a charcoal gray or primer black color, fled the scene, officials said. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026

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)