secondaryadjective
uk/ˈsek.ən.dri/us/ˈsek.ən.der.i/secondary adjective (LESS IMPORTANT)
less important than related things:
Her health is what matters - the cost of the treatment is of secondary importance.
The need for secrecy is secondary to the need to take immediate action.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Of little or less importance
- be in/under sb's shadow idiom
- be neither here nor there idiom
- be no big deal idiom
- biggie
- derisory
- fringe
- lowly
- merely
- minor
- miss
- mouldy
- need
- peripheral
- petty
- poxy
- rinky-dink
- sideshow
- small-time
- stay
- subordinate
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secondary adjective (COMING AFTER)
developing from something similar that existed earlier:
The drug is not very effective against AIDS, though it may be used to treat secondary viral infections.
You can't just rely on secondary sources for your research into her life history - you ought to look at primary sources such as her letters and diaries.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Before, after and already
- afore
- after
- afterwards
- already
- ante
- as it is idiom
- following
- formerly
- front
- gone
- heretofore
- immediate
- in advance idiom
- in advance of sth/sb idiom
- later
- prologue
- shortly
- subsequent
- successor
- thereafter
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secondary adjective (EDUCATION)
B1 [ before noun ] mainly UK relating to the education of children approximately between the ages of 11 and 18 years old:
secondary education
UK Marcus has just started at secondary school.
More examples
- It takes a year to do a PGCE and then you can teach in a primary or secondary school.
- This course qualifies you to teach in any secondary school.
- Emily will be starting secondary school this year.
- In some countries secondary education is not universally available.
- The last ten years have seen a transformation in secondary education.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Types of education
- adult education
- apprenticeship
- blended learning
- child-centred
- coeducation
- consciousness-raising
- continuing education
- distance learning
- e-learning
- educational
- educative
- further education
- heuristic
- higher
- mainstream
- mixed-ability
- nursery
- remedial
- scholarship
- vocational
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secondarily
adverb uk/ˌsek.ənˈdeə.rəl.i/us/ˌsek.ənˈder.əl.i/