The meaning of TERTIARY is of third rank, importance, or value. How to use tertiary in a sentence.

TERTIARY definition: 1. relating to a third level or stage 2. relating to education in colleges and universities: 3. A…. Learn more.

Tertiary is another way of saying "third in importance," like socializing with co-workers being a tertiary reason for getting an after-school job — less important than, first, earning money and second, …

Define tertiary. tertiary synonyms, tertiary pronunciation, tertiary translation, English dictionary definition of tertiary. adj. 1. Third in place, order, degree, or rank.

Jan 2, 2026 · Founded in 1284, Peterhouse is the oldest of the colleges of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK. Universities provide tertiary education (sense 1), after primary and secondary …

Definition of tertiary adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Tertiary is a term often used to describe a third level, stage, or order of something. In geology, it refers to the third epoch of the Cenozoic Era, between the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods. In education, …

The Tertiary Period is characterized by the appearance of modern flora, insects, fish, amphibians, and reptiles, and by the dominance of mammals as vertebrate life forms on land.

There are 25 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word tertiary, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

TERTIARY definition: of the third order, rank, stage, formation, etc.; third. See examples of tertiary used in a sentence.