1 sec·ond·ary
Pronounced:
/ˈsɛkənˌderi, Brit ˈsɛkəndri/
Function:
adjectiveMeaning:
1 : not as important or valuable as something else ▪ Winning is secondary—we play for the fun of the sport. ▪ There are some secondary issues/considerations which must be taken into account as well. ▪ secondary goals ▪ 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. —often + to ▪ In some children's books, the text is secondary to the illustrations. —compare primary, tertiary
2 : of or relating to education of students who have completed primary school ▪ This job requires at least a secondary [=high school] education. ▪ a secondary English textbook —see also secondary school
3 : caused by or coming from something else ▪ a secondary infection ▪ Better gas mileage is a secondary benefit of reduced speed limits. ▪ The biography uses mostly secondary sources. [=information that did not come from original/primary sources but came from research done by others]
2 : of or relating to education of students who have completed primary school ▪ This job requires at least a secondary [=high school] education. ▪ a secondary English textbook —see also secondary school
3 : caused by or coming from something else ▪ a secondary infection ▪ Better gas mileage is a secondary benefit of reduced speed limits. ▪ The biography uses mostly secondary sources. [=information that did not come from original/primary sources but came from research done by others]
—sec·ond·ari·ly /ˌsɛkənˈderəli/ adverb ▪ The building planners are only secondarily concerned with accessibility.