pri·ma·ry
ˈprī-ˌmer-ē 
ˈprī-mə-rē
ˈprī-mə-rē
ˈprīm-rē
1
: first in order of time or development : primitive
the primary stage of civilization
the primary lesion of a disease
2
a
: of first rank, importance, or value : principal
the primary purpose
b
: basic, fundamental
security is a primary need
c
: of, relating to, or constituting the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing
d
: of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products
e
: expressive of present or future time
primary tense
f
: of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists
the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress
3
b
: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
c
: preparatory to something else in a continuing process
primary instruction
d
: of or relating to a primary school
primary education
e
: of or relating to a primary election
a primary candidate
f
: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
primary nerves
g
: directly derived from ores
primary metals
h
: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins
primary protein structure
4
: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule
a primary amine
especially
: being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
5
: of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem
primary tissue
primary growth
6
: of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants
primary productivity
7
: providing primary care
a primary physician
plural primaries
1
: something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental
—usually used in plural
2
: the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve
especially
: the more massive usually brighter component of a binary star system
3
: one of the usually 9 or 10 strong flight feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing see wing illustration
4
a
b
: the sensation of seeing primary colors
5
a
: caucus
b
: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention
6
: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer
called also primary coil
primaried; primarying; primaries
: to run against (an incumbent) in a primary election
She won the seat in 2020 after successfully primarying a veteran Democrat in the district.—
Brianne Pfannenstiel
—usually used in the passiveBrianne PfannenstielBut he's apparently going to be primaried—by a couple of people you've never heard of …—Gail Collins
Gail CollinsHe served a single term … but was primaried, and soundly defeated, in his bid for reelection.—Daniel Foster
Daniel FosterExamples of primary in a Sentence
Adjective
The economy was the primary focus of the debate.
The family is the primary social unit of human life.
The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.
We just started our primary flight training.
The book is based mainly on primary sources rather than secondary sources.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Ocean temperatures are a primary driver of hurricane strength, Emanuel said.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
The 1st District seat will be up for grabs in next year’s election beginning with the June 2 primary.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
The group is part of an effort to elect a new generation of lawmakers and drew headlines for the group’s $20 million effort to primary safe House Democrats.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Trump then tapped Bessent to serve as his primary channel to Beijing and to lead negotiations.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Ocean temperatures are a primary driver of hurricane strength, Emanuel said.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
After Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary this summer, some high-end real-estate brokers confessed to having something of a freak-out.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
The 1st District seat will be up for grabs in next year’s election beginning with the June 2 primary.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Trump allies were quick to criticize Senate Republicans on X for not jumping on board with Trump's plans, and promised to primary those who opposed redistricting.
—Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
The group is part of an effort to elect a new generation of lawmakers and drew headlines for the group’s $20 million effort to primary safe House Democrats.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
primary
1 of 2 adjective
pri·ma·ry
ˈprī-ˌmer-ē
ˈprīm-(ə-)rē
ˈprīm-(ə-)rē
2
a
: of first rank, importance, or value
our primary duties
b
: basic entry 1 sense 1, fundamental
the family is the primary unit of human association
c
: of, relating to, or being one of the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing located on the outer joint
d
: of, relating to, or being the strongest of three levels of stress in pronunciation
3
a
: not made or coming from something else : firsthand
a primary source of information
b
: of, relating to, or being the current or circuit that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer
primary
2 of 2 noun
plural primaries
1
: one of the usually nine or ten strong flight feathers on the outer joint of a bird's wing
2
3
: an election in which members of a political party nominate candidates for office
4
: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer
called also primary coil
Medical Definition
primary
1 of 2 adjective
pri·ma·ry
ˈprī-ˌmer-ē
ˈprīm-(ə-)rē
ˈprīm-(ə-)rē
1
a(1)
: first in order of time or development
(2)
: relating to or being the milk teeth and especially the 20 milk teeth in the human set
b(1)
: arising spontaneously : idiopathic
primary insomnia
the absence of any pelvic abnormality confirmed the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea
(2)
: being an initial tumor or site especially of cancer
efforts to find the primary tumor have failed—Raphael Feinmesser
Raphael Feinmesser
c
: providing primary care
a primary physician
2
: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
3
: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
primary nerves
4
: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins
primary protein structure
compare secondary sense 3, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c
5
: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule
especially
: being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
Legal Definition
primary
1 of 2 adjective
pri·ma·ry
ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, -mə-rē
1
: of first rank, value, or importance
2
: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
primary
2 of 2 noun
plural primaries
1
: caucus
2
: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention
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