secondary

CEFRB1

/ˈsɛkənd(ə)ɹɪ/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Less important than the main thing.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Coming after an earlier stage or level.

Examples

  • In my understanding, Robinson treats this element as secondary.

  • Social relationships are secondary to this business.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Derived from a parent compound by replacement of two atoms of hydrogen by organic radicals.

  2. Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body.

  3. Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.

More examples

In context

  • Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.

  • the work of secondary hands

  • secondary cleavage

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The most important concern is safety, while cost is a blank consideration for us.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the Italian secondario, the Occitan secundari, the Portuguese secundario, and the Spanish secundario.