primer

1 of 2

noun (1)

prim·​er ˈpri-mər How to pronounce primer (audio)
 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 How to pronounce primer (audio)
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.

Examples of primer in a Sentence

Noun (1) a primer of human anatomy
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Nike's new shift to align with Kim Kardashian for their women's primer product rather than an elite woman athlete reveals a new strategy and gambles that the trend in hyper-feminism aspiration is more representative of their current female customer base. C200, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Horton offers a healthy mix of old advice that has maintained its relevance in a changing world and newer tips that feel fresh today, but anyone looking to launch a filmmaking career could do a lot worse than using this as a primer. Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025 The state’s gain is the lottery player’s loss, as Investopedia notes in a lottery primer. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 Here is my in-depth primer on the NFL on television this season, including what’s on each network and streaming service, what’s new and announcer changes. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for primer

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of primer was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primer. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

primer

1 of 2 noun
prim·​er ˈprim-ər How to pronounce primer (audio)
 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 How to pronounce primer (audio)
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 How to pronounce primer (audio)
: 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on primer

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