secondary character
Not the protagonist
A secondary character is a figure in a story who supports the main characters without being central to the narrative.
Secondary characters provide context, advance subplots, or illuminate aspects of protagonists: The detective's partner was a secondary character who offered comic relief.
They occupy the middle ground between protagonists and background extras.
- supportingBearing or sustaining
- sidekickSubordinate adventure partner
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
- minorScale with lowered third
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
foil · cameo · bit part · walk-on role · understudy · wingman · third wheel · companion · deuteragonist · auxiliary · plot device · peripheral · henchman · lackey · confidant · comic relief · love interest · mentor
secondary characterprotagonist
Story's central figure
main character · lead character · central character · leading role · title character
secondary characterprincipal character
Story's central figure
top billing · leading role · lead role · starring role · background character
secondary, secondarily, second, secondly, character, characters, characteristic, characteristically, characterize