secondary Definition

secondary
adj

1. Being of lesser importance than the principal or primary concern; subordinate.

Thesaurus: subordinate, lesser, subsidiary, auxiliary, alternate; minor, petty, trivial; Antonym: primary, important.
2. Developed from something earlier or original.

Example: a secondary infection
Thesaurus: consequent, subsequent, attendant, indirect, derived; contingent, dependent; Antonym: original.
3. Said of education: between primary and higher or further, for pupils aged between 11 and 18.
4. electronics.
Said of an electric circuit: having a device that induces current, eg a transformer. Compare primary, tertiary.
5. geol.
Relating to the Mesozoic era.
Form: Secondary

noun secondaries

1. A subordinate person or thing.
2. A delegate or deputy.
3. pathol.
A further malignant tumour in the body at some distance from an original cancer site.
4. A feather growing on the ulna of a bird's wing.
5. electronics.
The coil or windings of the second stage of a transformer.
6. The Mesozoic era.

Form: the Secondary

Derivative: secondarily
adverb

Derivative: secondariness
noun

Etymology: 14c: from Latin secundarius.