primary
English meaning: Primary
Definition
A primary election; a preliminary election to select a political candidate of a political party.
Example
“Safety is our primary concern on every flight.”
Another example: “He won the New Hampshire primary by a narrow margin.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An adjective meaning chief or first in importance ('primary concern', 'primary school'), and a noun for a preliminary election in US politics. Common in education, science, and politics. 'Primary school' is UK; US uses 'elementary school'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'primarius' ('of the first rank'), from 'primus' ('first'), in English from the 15th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- secondary
- minor
Related Words
- obligatory
- secondary
- runoff
- schooling
- cortex
- tertiary
- sector
- businesses
- schools
- incumbent
Common Collocations
- primary school
- primary concern
- primary source
- primary care
- primary election
Word Forms
primary (adj/n); primaries (pl); primarily (adv)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B