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secondaryof second rank or importance; not primary

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: of second rank or importance; not primary

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsekənˌderi/

Example Sentences

  • My mom said cleaning my room is secondary to doing homework, but I think she's got her priorities backwards!
  • The secondary characters in this movie are more interesting than the main character.
  • He got into secondary school, which is great because his primary school grades were terrible!

secondary

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈsekənˌderi/]

of second rank or importance; not primary

of second rank or importance; not primary
💡 Concept

of second rank or importance; not primary

Not primary, not ordinary - my secondary path is extraordinary!
🎵 Rhyme

Not primary, not ordinary - my secondary path is extraordinary!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈsekənˌderi/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈsekəndri/

🌳Etymology

Rootsecond
Suffix--ary

Origin

From Latin 'secundarius' meaning 'of the second rank or order,' derived from 'secundus' (second, following). The word entered English through Old French and Medieval Latin, maintaining its sense of something that follows or is of lesser importance than the primary.

Breakdown

second- (Latin 'secundus', second) + -ary (suffix meaning 'of, relating to, or connected with') = secondary (of second rank or importance)

🎵Rhyme

primarytertiaryordinarytemporary
primary
tertiary
ordinary
temporary

🔗Collocations

secondary school
secondary education
secondary source
secondary importance
secondary market
secondary effects

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My mom said cleaning my room is secondary to doing homework, but I think she's got her priorities backwards!

The secondary characters in this movie are more interesting than the main character.

😄 Fun example

He got into secondary school, which is great because his primary school grades were terrible!

The secondary effects of the medicine were worse than the original problem.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

subordinateminorauxiliarysupplementarysubsidiary

Antonyms

primarymainprincipal

Related

tertiaryelementarypreliminarysubsequent

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