secondary

The word “secondary” means of lesser importance than something else; not primary. In plain terms, second in rank or importance, or referring to the school stage after primary school.

“Secondary” is pronounced SEH-kuhnd-rih (/ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/ in IPA).

Here is “secondary” used in a sentence: “Cost was a secondary concern compared to safety.”

“Secondary” is an adjective.

The word “secondary” comes from Latin. From Latin "secundarius" ("of the second class"), from "secundus" ("second").

“Secondary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Secondary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of lesser importance than something else; not primary.

Primary means first in importance, order or rank — the main thing. Secondary means it comes after that, of lesser importance or as a supporting element. A primary goal is the main aim; a secondary goal matters less. The pair is used to separate what is central from what is subordinate or supplementary.

Not really. Secondary simply ranks something below what is primary; it does not mean bad or unimportant, just less central. A secondary concern still matters, and a secondary source is still useful. The word is mostly neutral, though calling someone's role secondary can feel dismissive depending on the context.

You might say, "Cost was a secondary consideration after safety," or "That is a secondary issue we can deal with later." The word marks something as less important than the main point. It also appears in fixed terms like secondary school, secondary source and secondary colour.