How do you pronounce secondary?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/.

Where does secondary come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

secondary

/ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.53 in modern English

Syllables: sec-ondary
IPA: /ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.

adj

Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body.

adj

Derived from a parent compound by replacement of two atoms of hydrogen by organic radicals.

adj

Produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass.

adj

Developed by pressure or other causes.

adj

Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.

adj

Dependent or consequent upon another disease, or occurring in the second stage of a disease.

adj

Of less than primary importance.

Example Sentences

"the work of secondary hands"
"secondary cleavage"
"Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever."
"the secondary symptoms of syphilis"
"a secondary issue"
"the problem of sexual equality became even more secondary than before in the eyes of the kibbutz and of its women members."

Etymology

From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the Italian secondario, the Occitan secundari, the Portuguese secundario, and the Spanish secundario.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: secundarie, secundārius

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/
British English: /ˈsɛkənd(ə)ɹɪ/

Inflected Forms

more secondary (comparative) most secondary (superlative) secondaries (plural)

Derived Forms

circumsecondary intersecondary nonsecondary postsecondary presecondary Seconal secondarily secondariness semisecondary supersecondary

Phrases

secondary alcohol secondary amine secondary cell secondary cell wall secondary circle secondary color secondary colour secondary diagonal

Frequently Paired Words

denary duodenary nonary octonary primary quaternary quinary senary

Synonyms

associate junior-grade lower-ranking lowly petty subaltern secondary coil secondary winding

Antonyms

idiopathic