tertiary
Tertiary (adjective) means Third in order, rank or importance, coming after primary and secondary. Example: “Tertiary causes of the collapse were noted but not investigated.”
How to Use Tertiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe third one in a sequence, after the first and second.
Formal and technical, common in medicine, education policy, economics and colour theory.
The sequence runs primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary. Tertiary always means third, never merely minor, although what is third is often less important.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ causes of the collapse were noted but not investigated.
Etymology
From Latin tertiarius 'of or containing a third part', from tertius 'third'.
Synonyms
View more →Related Words
Rhymes for tertiary
See all rhymes for tertiary →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary?
Primary is first, secondary is second and tertiary is third in a ranked sequence. In healthcare, primary care is your GP, secondary care is a hospital specialist you are referred to, and tertiary care is a highly specialised centre for complex cases.
What is tertiary education?
Tertiary education is any formal study undertaken after secondary school, including universities, technical institutes and vocational colleges. The term is standard in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, where Americans would usually say higher education or college.
What are tertiary colours?
Tertiary colours are made by mixing a primary colour with a neighbouring secondary colour, giving shades such as red-orange, yellow-green and blue-violet. There are six of them on a standard twelve-part colour wheel.