subaltern vs secondary

subaltern and secondary both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
subaltern	Yes	Yes	No	No
secondary	Yes	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, subaltern and secondary are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of subaltern include junior-grade, lower-ranking, lowly, petty.

subaltern (noun)	secondary (noun)
a British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain	coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil
	the defensive football players who line up behind the linemen

subaltern (adjective)	secondary (adjective)
inferior in rank or status	being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
	depending on or incidental to what is original or primary
	inferior in rank or status
	not of major importance
	belonging to a lower class or rank