WordGarden.iosecondarily
A2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˌsɛkənˈdɛrəli/
Meanings
Adverb
as the second point or item in an ordered list or argument
as a secondary or less important matter
Beyond the definition
Imagine a detective solving a case. The primary reason they're there is to find the thief. But secondarily, they may also notice links to other crimes. "Secondarily" means in a secondary or less important way. It points to something that is not the main purpose, reason, or concern, but still matters. You wouldn't build a house primarily for its view, but the view could matter secondarily.
Think of it like layers: the first layer is the main thing, and the next layer matters too, just not as much. A chef might care most about flavor in a dish (primarily), but think about presentation secondarily. It's often used to show what comes first and what comes after that in importance.
"Secondarily" describes something done, considered, or mentioned in a secondary way. It usually shows a clear order of importance: one thing comes first, and another comes after it in priority. The second thing is not necessarily unimportant, but it is not the main focus.
You might say, "The company's profits increased primarily due to new marketing strategies, and secondarily because of reduced operating costs." This means the marketing was the main driver of profit, while cost reduction played a supporting role. It's often used in contexts where you need to clarify what is most important versus what is less so.
"Secondarily" is not as common in everyday conversation as words like "also" or "next." You're more likely to see it in formal writing, reports, or technical discussions where the order of importance matters. For example, a scientist might study the primary effects of a drug on a disease and look at side effects secondarily.
It's important to note that "secondarily" does not mean unimportant. It just means less central than something else. A beautiful garden might matter secondarily when buying a property: the house itself comes first, but the garden still adds value and enjoyment.
In some contexts, "secondarily" can also mean "in addition, as a second point," but it still keeps the sense that this point is not the main one. So when you want to show that something comes after the main reason, purpose, or concern, "secondarily" fits well.
Examples
- 1
Course goals
The course is designed primarily to improve writing and secondarily to prepare students for the exam.
- 2
Job choice
She chose the job for the flexible hours and secondarily for the salary.
- 3
Priority comparison
The committee considered cost, but only secondarily to safety.
- Patternonly secondarily to + main priority
less importantly than it
- 4
Medical effects
The disease can damage the kidneys secondarily after attacking the lungs.
See also
Similar
- peripherally
- incidentally
- subordinately
Shades of meaning
- marginally
- derivatively
Contrast
- primarily
- centrally
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- primarily and secondarily
- secondarily concerned with
- secondarily responsible for
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- secondarilyadverb