What does secondarily mean?
“Secondarily” is an adverb meaning in a secondary way, or with less importance than another purpose, factor, or result. It describes something that is additional but not the main focus. For example, a product may be designed primarily for durability and secondarily for appearance, or an argument may deal chiefly with cost and secondarily with environmental impact. The word is formal and somewhat uncommon in casual conversation, where “also” or “in addition” may sound more natural. Its use is useful when you want to distinguish a subordinate concern from the central one without denying that the subordinate concern matters. Because it focuses on relative importance, it should not be confused with “second,” which more often refers to position in a sequence or another instance.
adverbIn a secondary manner or position; as a secondary consideration rather than a primary one.
- In a secondary manner; as a secondary consideration.
"The proposal is primarily intended to reduce costs, but it also secondarily improves accessibility."
"The main benefit is efficiency, with improved usability being a secondarily important advantage."
"She was hired secondarily for her technical expertise rather than her administrative experience."
What matters secondarily may still matter greatly—especially when the primary plan works perfectly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does secondarily come from?
“Secondarily” derives from the adjective “secondary,” which comes from Latin secundarius, meaning “following,” “second,” or “subordinate.” The Latin word was based on secundus, meaning “second” or “following.” English adopted “secondary” in the 16th century, and the adverb “secondarily” developed later in the 17th century with the suffix -ly.
Related word forms
How secondarily is actually used
This is a formal or literary adverb. In everyday speech, “secondarily” is often replaced by “also,” “in addition,” or “as a secondary consideration,” depending on the intended meaning.
Easily confused with secondarily
“Secondarily” means in a subordinate or secondary way, whereas “second” can mean coming after another, or another in a series.