define primarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "define primarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to specify the main or most important meaning of a term or concept. Example: "In this context, we will define primarily the term 'sustainability' as it relates to environmental practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They will primarily signify be truly predicable of exactly the same things, since they will primarily signify just what the term they define primarily signifies.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Countries have always historically been defined primarily by their inhabitants.

The New York Times

But are boys that age really defined primarily by their sexual urges?

The New York Times

Teaching had become defined primarily as a matter of pedagogical technique, rather than of imparting knowledge..

The New Yorker

PERCY and O'Connor were the more conventionally literary, in the sense that their careers were defined primarily by their fiction.

The New York Times - Books

Perhaps it was the book's thought-provoking contention that Christians should not be defined primarily by what they believe.

The New York Times - Magazine

The new design is not mandatory; the city imposes requirements defined primarily by safety.

The New York Times

Teaching had become defined primarily as a matter of pedagogical technique, rather than of imparting knowledge.

The New Yorker

Some have indeed argued that the brands of the future will be defined primarily by the fluency and intuitiveness of the interactions consumers have with them.

The Guardian

The explanation for this paradox is that politics, for the voters who back Ukip, has ceased to be defined primarily as a battle for economic resources.

The Guardian

In the late 1990s the curator Thelma Golden and the artist Glenn Ligon got together and invented "Post-Black," a movement of sorts for black artists who didn't want their work or themselves to be defined primarily in racial terms.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "define primarily" when you want to emphasize the most important or fundamental aspect of a definition, differentiating it from secondary or less significant characteristics.

Common error

Avoid using "define primarily" when the definition is based on multiple equally important factors. It's best suited for situations where one aspect significantly outweighs others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "define primarily" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying how the act of defining is being carried out. It indicates that the definition is focused on the main or most important aspects. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "define primarily" is used to specify the main or most important aspect of a definition. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's usable in written English. While grammatically sound, it's relatively rare, appearing mostly in science, news and media, and encyclopedic contexts. Alternative phrases include "chiefly define" and "mainly define". When using "define primarily", ensure it's in a context where emphasizing the primary aspect of the definition is necessary to avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly define

Replaces "primarily" with "chiefly", emphasizing the main aspect of definition.

mainly define

Substitutes "primarily" with "mainly", indicating the principal way of defining.

essentially define

Replaces "primarily" with "essentially", focusing on the fundamental definition.

largely define

Substitutes "primarily" with "largely", suggesting the greater part of the definition.

principally define

Replaces "primarily" with "principally", highlighting the most important aspect of definition.

predominantly define

Substitutes "primarily" with "predominantly", indicating the prevailing way of defining.

fundamentally define

Replaces "primarily" with "fundamentally", emphasizing the basic definition.

primarily characterize

Replaces "define" with "characterize", focusing on the main traits.

mainly characterize

Replaces "define" with "characterize" and "primarily" with "mainly".

chiefly characterize

Replaces "define" with "characterize" and "primarily" with "chiefly".

FAQs

How can I use "define primarily" in a sentence?

You can use "define primarily" when you want to specify the main or most important meaning of a term or concept. For example: "In this context, we will define primarily the term 'sustainability' as it relates to environmental practices."

What are some alternatives to "define primarily"?

You can use alternatives like "chiefly define", "mainly define", or "essentially define" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "define primarily"?

While "define" implies setting a primary meaning, "define primarily" can be useful for emphasis or to clarify that other secondary meanings exist. Whether it's redundant depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "define primarily" versus "define"?

"Define primarily" is appropriate when you want to explicitly state that you are focusing on the most important aspect of a definition, while "define" is suitable when a straightforward definition without the need for such emphasis is sufficient.