Secundário

Secundário is a Portuguese adjective and noun meaning second, following, or subordinate. It derives from Latin secundarius, from secundus meaning “following” or “second.” The feminine form is secundária, and the plural forms are secundários and secundárias. The term appears across different domains, with nuances depending on context.

In education, ensino secundário or curso secundário refers to the level of schooling that follows basic education and precedes higher education or vocational training. It typically offers a range of general and technical curricula designed to prepare students for universities or the labor market.

In economics, o setor secundário comprises manufacturing and industry—activities that transform raw materials into finished goods. This sector sits between the primary sector (extraction and agriculture) and the tertiary sector (services).

In ecology, sucessão secundária describes ecological succession that occurs after a disturbance in which soil and some organisms remain, allowing the ecosystem to recover more rapidly than in primary succession.

In medicine, secundário is used to describe secondary manifestations or sites, such as a tumor secundário (secondary tumor) that has spread from a primary cancer.

In everyday usage, secundário can indicate a subordinate or less prominent role or feature. The term is widely used in Portuguese-speaking contexts and is inflected for gender and number (secundário, secundária, secundários, secundárias).