secondary

Less important than the main thing.

• Cost is a secondary concern.
• Her own comfort was secondary to the children’s safety.
• He played a secondary role in the project.

How to use it: secondary to something (For us, price is secondary to quality.)

Similar words: less important, minor, subordinate

Opposites: primary, main

Common phrases: secondary concern, secondary importance, secondary to something

Coming after the first stage or place in a series.

• She starts secondary school next year.
• The process enters its secondary stage after cooling.
• These pupils have completed their secondary education.

Similar words: second

Opposites: primary

Common phrases: secondary school, secondary education, secondary stage

Made by mixing two basic colours.

• Orange is a secondary colour in painting.
• Mix two primary colours to make a secondary colour.
• The children identified the secondary colours on the wheel.

Opposites: primary

Common phrases: secondary colour, secondary colors

Done or provided by someone acting for the person mainly responsible.

• The work passed through secondary hands.
• He accepted reports from secondary agents acting for the king.
• The orders came from a secondary authority appointed by the governor.

Similar words: delegated

Common phrases: secondary hands, secondary authority

A school for children who have finished primary school.

• She attends the local secondary.
• Two secondaries in the district offer music lessons.
• Parents compared the nearby secondaries before applying.

Similar words: secondary school

Common phrases: local secondary, a secondary

A person who helps a senior official and can act in their place.

• The secondary assisted the sheriff.
• A new secondary was appointed to handle the records.
• The sheriff left these duties to his secondary.

Similar words: deputy, assistant

Common phrases: a secondary, the secondary