secondary source
noun
plural secondary sources
information science
: an article, report, etc. that is based on firsthand accounts or records of a thing being researched or studied but that is not itself a firsthand account
Primary sources are the raw materials of history—original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place.—Library of Congress
If you've attended one of my genealogy classes, you've heard the terms primary source and secondary source bandied about. Primary sources are those records that were created at or very near the time of the event, by someone who attended the event or had first-hand knowledge of the event. Secondary sources are records that are more removed from the event.—Larry Van Horn
The news media outlets' political affiliation was determined by examining each paper's website and secondary sources that described each affiliation.—Kenzie Hanson and Alexandra Lysova
Cite this Entry
“Secondary source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondary%20source. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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