secondary dominant

noun

A dominant (V) chord that temporarily tonicizes a non-tonic chord (i.e. allows a chord other than the tonic have the feeling of the tonic).

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Meanings

nounsecondary dominant (plural secondary dominants)

plural secondary dominants · alternative Ⅴ/Ⅴ

  1. entertainmentA dominant (V) chord that temporarily tonicizes a non-tonic chord (i.e. allows a chord other than the tonic have the feeling of the tonic).
Cite this entry
APA

secondary dominant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20dominant

MLA

“secondary dominant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20dominant. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “secondary dominant,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20dominant.

Source: secondary dominant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.