Synonyms for primary

Noun

1. primary, primary election, election

usage: a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen

2. primary, primary feather, primary quill, flight feather, pinion, quill, quill feather

usage: one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing

3. primary coil, primary winding, primary, coil

usage: coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; "current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil"

Adjective

1. primary (vs. secondary), capital, direct, firsthand, first-string, original, particular, special, essential, first, original

usage: of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondhand; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest"

2. primary, underived (vs. derived)

usage: not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct"

3. chief(prenominal), main(prenominal), primary(prenominal), principal(prenominal), important (vs. unimportant), of import

usage: most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"

4. elementary, primary, basic (vs. incidental)

usage: of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing"

5. basal, basic, primary, essential (vs. inessential)

usage: of primary importance; "basic truths"