Definition of 'primary'

Word Frequency

primary

(praɪməri , US -meri )

Word forms: plural primaries

1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

You use primary to describe something that is very important.

[formal]

That's the primary reason the company's share price has held up so well.

I don't think young people's primary aim in life is to get drunk.

His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems.

The family continues to be the primary source of care for people as they grow older.

Synonyms: chief, leading, main, best More Synonyms of primary

2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Primary education is given to pupils between the ages of 5 and 11.

[British]

Britain did not introduce compulsory primary education until 1880.

Ninety-nine per cent of primary pupils now have hands-on experience of computers.

...primary teachers.

regional note: in AM, use elementary

3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Primary is used to describe something that occurs first.

It is not the primary tumour that kills, but secondary growths elsewhere in the body.

They have been barred from primary bidding for clients.

4. countable noun

A primary or a primary election is an election in an American state in which people vote for someone to become a candidate for a political office. Compare general election.

...the 1968 New Hampshire primary.

She won the Democratic primary.

New York holds its primary election on Tuesday.

More Synonyms of primary

Video: pronunciation of 'primary'

Word Frequency

primary in British

(ˈpraɪmərɪ )

adjective

first in importance, degree, rank, etc

first in position or time, as in a series

fundamental; basic

being the first stage; elementary

5. (prenominal)

of or relating to the education of children up to the age of 11

(of the flight feathers of a bird's wing) growing from the manus

being the part of an electric circuit, such as a transformer or induction coil, in which a changing current induces a current in a neighbouring circuit

a primary coil

(of a current) flowing in such a circuit

Compare secondary

(of a product) consisting of a natural raw material; unmanufactured

(of production or industry) involving the extraction or winning of such products. Agriculture, fishing, forestry, hunting, and mining are primary industries

Compare secondary (sense 7), tertiary (sense 3)

9. chemistry

(of an organic compound) having a functional group attached to a carbon atom that is attached to at least two hydrogen atoms

(of an amine) having only one organic group attached to the nitrogen atom; containing the group NH2

(of a salt) derived from a tribasic acid by replacement of one acidic hydrogen atom with a metal atom or electropositive group

10. linguistics

derived from a word that is not a derivation but the ultimate form itself. Lovable is a primary derivative of love

(of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit tenses) referring to present or future time

Compare historic (sense 3)

11. geology

relating to magmas that have not experienced fractional crystallization or crystal contamination

noun plural -ries

12.

a person or thing that is first in rank, occurrence, etc

13. (in the US)

a preliminary election in which the voters of a state or region choose a party's convention delegates, nominees for office, etc

a local meeting of voters registered with one party to nominate candidates, select convention delegates, etc

Full name: primary election

14. primary colour

15.

any of the flight feathers growing from the manus of a bird's wing

16.

a primary coil, winding, inductance, or current in an electric circuit

17. astronomy

a celestial body around which one or more specified secondary bodies orbit

the sun is the primary of the earth

Word origin of 'primary'

C15: from Latin prīmārius of the first rank, principal, from prīmus first

Word Frequency

primary in American

(ˈpraɪˌmɛri ; prīˈmerˌē; ˈpraɪməri ; prīˈmərē)

adjective

first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest

from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic

designating colors regarded as basic, or as those from which all others may be derived

classification of colors as primary varies see also color (sense 2) color (sense 3)

of or in the first stage of a sequence; elementary

primary school

first in importance; chief; principal; main

a primary concern

firsthand; direct

a primary source of information

7. Chemistry

characterized by or resulting from the replacement of one atom or radical

characterized by groups or radicals that are attached to the end carbon atom of a chain, i.e., to a CH2 group (Ex.: primary alcohols, CH2OH; primary amines, CH2NH2)

8. Electricity

designating or of an inducing current, input circuit, or input coil in a transformer, induction coil, etc.

9. Geology

formed directly by sedimentation, solidification, or precipitation and not subsequently altered

said of rocks

b. Obsolete

designating or of the earliest geological periods, up through the Paleozoic Era

10. Linguistics

having as its fundamental form a base or other element that cannot be broken down

said of derivation

11. Medicine

designating or having to do with the initial medical care given to a patient, before referral to another doctor, a specialist, etc.

12. Zoology

designating or of the large, stiff feathers on the last section, or hand, of a bird's wing

nounWord forms: plural ˈpriˌmaries

13.

something first in order, quality, importance, etc.

14. US

in the U.S.,

a local meeting of voters of a given political party to nominate candidates for public office, select delegates to a convention, etc.

direct primary election

15.

any of the primary colors

16. Astronomy

a sun, planet, etc. in relation to its satellites

the brighter member of a binary star

17. Electricity

a primary coil

18. Zoology

a primary feather

Word origin of 'primary'

ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see prime

Example sentences containing 'primary'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

All voters can take part in the primary election. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Businesses and consumers say the smartphone has become the primary device they use to access the internet. Times, Sunday Times (2017)His local primary school was at a loss. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The organisation’s primary concern when devising the scheme was to provide as many computers using as little energy as possible. Computing (2010)We are both 17 and have known one another since primary school. The Sun (2017)The party 's primary contest is expected by many people to produce the next president in the election in May. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It also killed the hepatitis C virus, a common cause of primary liver cancer. The Sun (2016)Your primary aim should always be get away. Lamplugh, Diana & Sterwin, Diana & Nottidge, Pamela Survive the Nine to Five - a woman's guide to working well (1989)The primary care group suggested a feasibility study on setting up a practice. Times, Sunday Times (2007)They detail incidents over three years involving both primary and secondary school teachers. The Sun (2010)This brings up one of the primary reasons for not giving credit. Christianity Today (2000)The best way to do this is by having election primaries. Times, Sunday Times (2008)The primary purpose of prison is punishment. The Sun (2013)Primary elections and party caucuses should be abolished. Chancellor, John Peril and Promise: A Commentary on America (1990)Where had she been when the primary votes were being counted? Times, Sunday Times (2016)Profit and growth will become the primary objectives. Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)There was particular concern about primary schools becoming academies. Times, Sunday Times (2010)We are the closest in age and the primary song writers of the band. The Sun (2009)It was like the first day at primary school and a very bad hangover all at once. John Harris THE LAST PARTY: Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock (2003)Another report for the review studied the history of primary education. Times, Sunday Times (2008)My primary school was one of the worst in the country. The Sun (2012)He has also been putting pressure on party leaders to stage a primary election in the autumn. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But the other effect is to make the party primaries the only elections that count. Times, Sunday Times (2014)It was not as straightforward as simply winning the most votes in primaries. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Ofsted is a fine body that continues to play a pivotal role in driving up standards in primary and secondary education. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Surely this should be a primary aim, not a feeble stumbling block? Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)It also means persuading them to open primary current accounts, those receiving the main monthly pay cheque. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The current primary school week involves four long days from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Times, Sunday Times (2013)