Secondary vs. Secondarily — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 22, 2024
"Secondary" is an adjective describing something of lesser importance or in a supporting role, while "secondarily" is an adverb meaning occurring or considered in the second order or place.
Difference Between Secondary and Secondarily
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Secondary" refers to things that are not primary or central, often used to denote a subordinate position or lesser importance. On the other hand, "secondarily" describes the manner or sequence in which something happens, specifically indicating it occurs second in order or priority.
In education, a secondary school follows elementary school, playing a specific role in the educational hierarchy. Whereas, a policy might be adopted primarily for economic reasons and secondarily for social benefits, describing the sequence of motivations.
Secondary sources in research provide interpretation or analysis based on primary sources. Secondarily, these sources might influence a researcher's conclusions, showing their indirect impact on the final analysis.
In healthcare, secondary symptoms are those that follow or are caused by the primary condition. Secondarily, these symptoms may affect treatment plans, indicating a subsequent consideration in medical strategy.
While a secondary character in a novel supports the main protagonist, enhancing the story, an author might introduce such a character secondarily to develop the plot, highlighting their sequential addition to the narrative.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Adverb
Function
Describes importance or rank
Describes sequence or manner
Usage in Sentence
Used to modify nouns (e.g., secondary effects)
Used to modify verbs or adjectives (e.g., considered secondarily)
Example Context
Education, symptoms, sources
Decision-making, analysis, narrative development
Typical Associations
Lesser importance, support role
Sequence, subsequent consideration
Compare with Definitions
Secondary
Acting as a backup or auxiliary.
The secondary battery kicks in when the primary one fails.
Secondarily
In the second place in order or importance.
He is primarily an actor, but secondarily a singer.
Secondary
Less important than but related or supplementary to something.
Secondary roads are less traveled compared to primary highways.
Secondarily
Subsequently to the main issue.
Secondarily, we will address the budget concerns.
Secondary
Pertaining to secondary education.
She teaches biology at a secondary school.
Secondarily
As a less important aspect.
The policy is secondarily aimed at improving infrastructure.
Secondary
Derivative or not original.
The film's plot is secondary to its special effects.
Secondarily
By secondary means or sources.
This information was obtained secondarily through interviews.
Secondary
In terms of order, coming after the primary.
His secondary reason for visiting was to see old friends.
Secondarily
Occurring as a secondary effect.
Secondarily, the medication may cause drowsiness.
Secondary
Second or lower in rank or importance; not primary
Concerns that are secondary.
Secondarily
Second or lower in rank or importance; not primary
Concerns that are secondary.
Secondary
Following what is first in time or sequence
Secondary fermentation.
Secondarily
Following what is first in time or sequence
Secondary fermentation.
Secondary
Of or relating to secondary schools.
Secondarily
Of or relating to secondary schools.
Secondary
Derived from what is primary or original
Literary criticism viewed as secondary to literature itself.
Secondarily
Derived from what is primary or original
Literary criticism viewed as secondary to literature itself.
Secondary
Not immediate or direct
A secondary source of information.
Secondarily
Not immediate or direct
A secondary source of information.
Secondary
Of, relating to, or being the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondarily
Of, relating to, or being the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondary
(Electricity) Having an induced current that is generated by an inductively coupled primary. Used of a circuit or coil.
Secondarily
(Electricity) Having an induced current that is generated by an inductively coupled primary. Used of a circuit or coil.
Secondary
Relating to, or having a carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms in a molecule.
Secondarily
Relating to, or having a carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms in a molecule.
Secondary
Relating to the replacement of two of several atoms or groups in a compound, such as an amine in which two valences of the functional group are taken by carbon atoms.
Secondarily
Relating to the replacement of two of several atoms or groups in a compound, such as an amine in which two valences of the functional group are taken by carbon atoms.
Secondary
(Geology) Produced from another mineral by decay or alteration.
Secondarily
(Geology) Produced from another mineral by decay or alteration.
Secondary
Of or relating to a secondary color or colors.
Secondarily
Of or relating to a secondary color or colors.
Secondary
Being a degree of health care intermediate between primary care and tertiary care, as that typically offered at a community hospital.
Secondarily
Being a degree of health care intermediate between primary care and tertiary care, as that typically offered at a community hospital.
Secondary
(Botany) Of, relating to, or derived from a lateral meristem, especially a cambium.
Secondarily
(Botany) Of, relating to, or derived from a lateral meristem, especially a cambium.
Secondary
One that acts in an auxiliary, subordinate, or inferior capacity.
Secondarily
One that acts in an auxiliary, subordinate, or inferior capacity.
Secondary
One of the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondarily
One of the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondary
(Electricity) A coil or circuit having an induced current.
Secondarily
(Electricity) A coil or circuit having an induced current.
Secondary
(Astronomy) A celestial body that orbits another; a satellite.
Secondarily
(Astronomy) A celestial body that orbits another; a satellite.
Secondary
The dimmer star of a binary star.
Secondarily
The dimmer star of a binary star.
Secondary
A secondary color.
Secondarily
A secondary color.
Secondary
(Football) The defensive backfield.
Secondarily
(Football) The defensive backfield.
Secondary
Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.
Secondarily
With lesser importance.
Primarily, this will cause deaths; secondarily, it will also cost a lot of money.
Secondary
Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body
The work of secondary hands
Secondarily
In a secondary manner or degree.
Secondary
(organic chemistry) Derived from a parent compound by replacement of two atoms of hydrogen by organic radicals
Secondarily
(obsolete) Secondly; in the second place.
Secondary
(geology) Produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass.
Secondarily
In a secondary manner or degree.
Secondary
(geology) Developed by pressure or other causes.
Secondary cleavage
Secondarily
Secondly; in the second place.
God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers.
Secondary
(anatomy) Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
Secondarily
Of secondary import;
Secondarily affected
Secondary
(medicine) Dependent or consequent upon another disease, or occurring in the second stage of a disease.
Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.
The secondary symptoms of syphilis
Secondary
Of less than primary importance.
A secondary issue
Secondary
(education) Related to secondary education, i.e. schooling between the ages of (approximately) 11 and 18.
Secondary
(manufacturing) Relating to the manufacture of goods from raw materials.
Secondary
(of a color) Formed by mixing primary colors.
Yellow is a secondary light color, though a primary CMYK color.
Secondary
Representing a reversion to an ancestral state.
Secondary
(ornithology) Any flight feather attached to the ulna (forearm) of a bird.
Secondary
(aviation) A radar return generated by the response of an aircraft's transponder to an interrogation signal broadcast by a radar installation, containing additional encoded identification and situational data not available from a simple primary return.
Secondary
(military) The second stage of a multistage thermonuclear weapon, which generates a fusion explosion when imploded as an indirect result of the fission explosion of the primary, and which, in a few extremely large weapons, itself implodes a fusion tertiary.
Secondary
(finance) An act of issuing more stock by an already publicly traded corporation.
Secondary
The defensive backs.
Secondary
(electronics) An inductive coil or loop that is magnetically powered by a primary in a transformer or similar.
Secondary
One who occupies a subordinate or auxiliary place; a delegate deputy.
The secondary, or undersheriff, of the city of London
Secondary
(astronomy) A secondary circle.
Secondary
(astronomy) A satellite.
Secondary
(education) A secondary school.
There are four secondaries in this district, each with several thousand pupils.
Secondary
Anything secondary or of lesser importance.
Secondary
Succeeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate.
Wheresoever there is moral right on the one hand, no secondary right can discharge it.
Two are the radical differences; the secondary differences are as four.
Secondary
Acting by deputation or delegated authority; as, the work of secondary hands.
Secondary
Possessing some quality, or having been subject to some operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.
Secondary
Subsequent in origin; - said of minerals produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass; also of characters of minerals (as secondary cleavage, etc.) developed by pressure or other causes.
Secondary
Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
Secondary
Dependent or consequent upon another disease; as, Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.
Secondary
One who occupies a subordinate, inferior, or auxiliary place; a delegate or deputy; one who is second or next to the chief officer; as, the secondary, or undersheriff of the city of London.
Old Escalus . . . is thy secondary.
Secondary
A secondary circle.
Secondary
A secondary quill.
Secondary
The defensive football players who line up behind the linemen
Secondary
Coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil
Secondary
Of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate;
The stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher
A secondary source
A secondary issue
Secondary streams
Secondary
Inferior in rank or status;
The junior faculty
A lowly corporal
Petty officialdom
A subordinate functionary
Secondary
Depending on or incidental to what is original or primary;
A secondary infection
Secondary
Not of major importance;
Played a secondary role in world events
Secondary
Belonging to a lower class or rank
Common Curiosities
What does "secondary" mean in the context of education?
In education, "secondary" refers to the level of schooling that follows elementary school, typically including middle and high school.
How does "secondary" relate to importance?
"Secondary" denotes something of lesser importance or that serves as a support or addition to the primary subject.
Can "secondarily" be used to describe priorities?
Yes, "secondarily" describes something that is considered or occurs second in priority or importance.
Is "secondarily" commonly used in everyday speech?
"Secondarily" is less common in casual conversation and more typical in formal or written contexts where sequence and priority are discussed.
What can be considered a secondary effect?
A secondary effect is an outcome that is not the primary result of an action but follows from the initial effect.
What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?
Primary sources provide direct evidence or first-hand accounts, while secondary sources offer interpretation or analysis of primary sources.
How might a decision be influenced secondarily?
A decision might be influenced secondarily by factors that are not the main focus but still affect the outcome or approach.
How do secondary and secondarily relate to each other?
"Secondary" describes the nature or importance of something as less central, while "secondarily" refers to its position.
Why is understanding secondary causes important in medicine?
Understanding secondary causes in medicine is crucial for comprehensive diagnosis and effective treatment planning.
Can a character in a story be both primary and secondary?
A character's role might shift between primary and secondary depending on the narrative focus and development throughout the story.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
