ENGLISH
REFERENCE

secondary

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi// UK //sˈɛkəndəɹi// sec·ondary General-service

n. a school for students between the ages of 11 and 18. You go here after you finish primary school.

n. an educational institution providing instruction for students following their primary education and preceding higher education or vocational training.


SIMPLE

She starts at the local secondary in September.

CONTEXTUAL

After completing six years of primary education, most students in the district transition to the same secondary.

COMPLEX

The government's new initiative aims to reduce the student-to-teacher ratio across every state-funded secondary to ensure more personalised instruction during the critical exam years.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the Italian secondario, the Occitan secundari, the Portuguese secundario, and the Spanish secundario.

Usage

Commonly used in British, Irish, and Australian English as a shorthand for 'secondary school'.

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