What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
secondary
Example
The secondary objective of the project is to increase customer satisfaction. [secondary: adjective]
Example
I have a secondary plan in case the first one doesn't work out. [secondary: adjective]
Example
The secondary character in the movie provided comic relief. [secondary: adjective]
auxiliary
Example
The auxiliary generator kicked in when the power went out. [auxiliary: adjective]
Example
The auxiliary police force was called in to assist with crowd control. [auxiliary: adjective]
Example
In the sentence 'I am eating', 'am' is an auxiliary verb. [auxiliary: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Secondary is more common in everyday language than auxiliary, which is more often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between secondary and auxiliary?
Both secondary and auxiliary can be used in formal and informal contexts, but auxiliary may be more formal due to its technical or specialized usage in grammar and other fields.
