secondary

1 of 2

adjective

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

secondarily

ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

secondariness

ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs 

noun

secondary

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• derivative

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

Adjective

The secondary was going to be a major question mark for the team. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Fitzpatrick, a 2018 Dolphins first-round pick who was traded to Pittsburgh in 2019, immediately becomes an important member of the secondary and the team. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025

Noun

Signs With Steelers Last season, the defensive secondary was a major issue. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

This season will be a much different story as there was a massive exodus of talent in the secondaries across the league. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing secondary

• secondary care
• secondary cell
• secondary color
• secondary emission
• secondary radiation
• secondary road
• secondary root
• secondary school
• secondary sex characteristic
• secondary source
• secondary syphilis

Rhymes for secondary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids 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

ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē

adverb

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

secondarily

ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

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

secondarily

ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē 

adverb

secondariness

ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs 

noun