secondary

adjective sec·ond·ary \ ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of secondary

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

play \ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē\ adverb

—

secondariness

play \ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs\ noun

See secondary defined for English-language learners

See secondary defined for kids

Examples of secondary in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of secondary from the Web

The benefit allows homeowners to deduct up to $1 million in interest payments on a primary (and a secondary) residence.

— Washington Post, "Push to simplify taxes is on but don’t touch some deductions," 31 Aug. 2017
Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson, who couldn’t fix the entire roster his first offseason, revamped the wide receiving corps and secondary in the latest overhaul.

— teresa m. walker, The Seattle Times, "NFL 2017: Titans, Mariota eager to push aside Texans, Colts," 30 Aug. 2017
One way to think of them is as comprehensive, partial, personal, sectoral or secondary.

— ben bartenstein, Bloomberg.com, "How Navigating Sanctions Can Trip Up Investors: QuickTake Q&A," 30 Aug. 2017
McLellan said Wednesday that the city and surrounding area is becoming increasingly isolated because Interstate 10, highways and many secondary roads are flooded.

— chicagotribune.com, "Harvey floods evacuee shelter in Port Arthur as storm makes second landfall in Louisiana," 30 Aug. 2017
And, depending on how things go during practice this week, both Jones and Wallace could be lined up in the secondary when Alabama opens its season against Florida State on Saturday.

— matt zenitz, AL.com, "2 Alabama veteran defensive backs pushing for starting jobs," 28 Aug. 2017
Three of those players — cornerback Isiah Olave and safeties Keleen Culberson and Ryan Parenteau — are in a secondary that could be the most experienced unit on the defense.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scouting report: UC Davis at Aztecs," 28 Aug. 2017
For estates that exceed the tax-exemption limit, estate planners often advise placing a primary or secondary home in a Qualified Personal Residence Trust.

— kaya laterman, New York Times, "Estate Planning: Leaving a Home to Heirs While You’re Still Alive," 25 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, four major investors—half of them in Asia—have lined up to buy secondary investments in Uber, Bloomberg reports, each of which could tilt the scales for various incumbents.

— vanityfair.com, "A Major Uber Investor Is Allegedly Trying to Oust Arianna Huffington," 16 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'secondary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of secondary

14th century

secondary Synonyms

Synonyms

derivative, secondhand

Antonyms

basic, original

Related Words

unoriginal; consequent, resultant

Near Antonyms

fundamental, nonderivative; first, primary

secondary

noun

Definition of secondary

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

See secondary defined for English-language learners

Examples of secondary in a Sentence

The team has a strong secondary.

Recent Examples of secondary from the Web

Wildcats running back Justin Jackson keeps up his strong season and push for offensive player of the year, while Clayton Thorson picks apart MSU’s secondary for 300 yards.

— chris solari, Detroit Free Press, "2017 Michigan State football game-by-game predictions," 24 Aug. 2017
Indiana’s secondary is staffed by a number of fourth- and fifth-year players, many of whom are probably best described as leaders by example.

— zach osterman, Indianapolis Star, "IU's Marcelino Ball aims to be the best in famous football family," 21 Aug. 2017
The Eagles also boast one of the state’s deepest secondaries, led by Tate, a McNeese State commitment, at cornerback.

— amos morale iii, NOLA.com, "District 9-4: Can Easton dethrone Karr?," 18 Aug. 2017
Younger brother Jack Cooney and Connor Reid — both safeties — join Ben Cooney as Benet aims to maintain a lockdown secondary.

— blake baumgartner, Naperville Sun, "Matt Boyle wants to lead Benet football back to state semifinals and beyond," 15 Aug. 2017
Julius Irvin and Trent McDuffie are part of a talented secondary at Servite.

— eric sondheimer, latimes.com, "Defensive backs will be strongest position in Southland," 13 Aug. 2017
There is another note of concern for Ravens’ beleaguered secondary, which practiced this morning at the team’s headquarters in Owings Mills without starting cornerback Jimmy Smith.

— edward lee, baltimoresun.com, "Cornerback Jimmy Smith sitting out second consecutive Ravens practice on Friday," 4 Aug. 2017
That’s not a suggestion of causation, just a note that the Eagles viewed him as a guy who could hold down a significant role in an NFL secondary.

— david murphy, Philly.com, "Five lesser questions that matter for the Eagles | David Murphy," 20 July 2017
Attrition pounded the Dallas secondary in March, with three of the five guys who started in the defensive backfield in the divisional playoffs now gone.

— albert breer, The MMQB, "The John Dorsey Dismissal: Where It Went Wrong in K.C.," 29 June 2017

First Known Use of secondary

15th century

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, ultimate

SECONDARY Defined for English Language Learners

secondary

adjective

Definition of secondary for English Language Learners

: not as important or valuable as something else
: of or relating to education of students who have completed primary school
: caused by or coming from something else

secondary

noun

Definition of secondary for English Language Learners

American football : the players on the defense who are positioned away from the line of scrimmage and who mainly try to stop forward passes by the offense

SECONDARY Defined for Kids

secondary

adjective sec·ond·ary \ ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē \

Definition of secondary for Students

1 :second in rank, value, or importance

We need to find water. Food is secondary.

2 :derived from or coming after something original or primary

a secondary effect

3 :relating to secondary school

a secondary education

4 :relating to or being the second of three levels of stress in pronunciation

Medical Dictionary

secondary

adjective sec·ond·ary \ ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē \

medical Definition of secondary

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 4, tertiary 2c

—

secondarily

play \ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē\ adverb

Law Dictionary

secondary

adjective sec·ond·ary \ ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē \

legal Definition of secondary

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

play \ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē\ adverb

—

secondariness

play \ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs\ noun

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secondary

Definition of secondary

secondarily

secondariness

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Examples of secondary in a Sentence

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First Known Use of secondary

secondary Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

secondary

Definition of secondary

Examples of secondary in a Sentence

Recent Examples of secondary from the Web

First Known Use of secondary

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

SECONDARY Defined for English Language Learners

secondary

Definition of secondary for English Language Learners

secondary

Definition of secondary for English Language Learners

SECONDARY Defined for Kids

secondary

Definition of secondary for Students

Medical Dictionary

secondary

medical Definition of secondary

secondarily

Law Dictionary

secondary

legal Definition of secondary

secondarily

secondariness

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