🇬🇧🇨🇳 peripheral - 次要的 : English Lesson

Meaning of "peripheral" ("次要的"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

If something is peripheral, it’s not the main or most important thing—it’s more like something extra on the side. Imagine a pizza: the cheesy part in the middle is what everyone wants most, and the crust at the very edge is less important. The crust is kind of ‘peripheral’ to the pizza. Peripheral things are still there and can matter, but they’re not the main focus or the center of attention.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Mom said the peripheral crumbs around my plate were not as serious as the spaghetti on the ceiling.

My main goal was to pass the test; my peripheral goal was to avoid snoring loudly during it.

In the kingdom of Snacks, vegetables live on the peripheral edges of the plate, far from the royal fries.

While the dentist checked my teeth, my peripheral fear was that my stomach would growl like a dinosaur.

In my grand plan to become famous, math homework is just a tiny peripheral detail I keep ignoring.

At the small park she sat on the blanket, staring at the bright cake in the center. Peripheral children ran; peripheral balloons bobbed; a peripheral dog nosed a bag; peripheral crumbs rolled toward wet grass; a peripheral gust blew a candle out. She stood, saved the cake, and laughed as the peripheral chaos eased.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.