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Plants wield and arsenal of structurally diverse chemical compounds called secondary metabolites, which equip them strategies to deter enemies, fend off pathogens, supersede competitors and surpass environmental constraints. These chemicals are produced under specific abiotic stresses and pathogenic attacks, therefore impart survival tactics to plants. A large number of such compounds and their biosynthetic pathways have been discovered so far from plant kingdom. Owing to their diverse biological and physio-chemical properties secondary metabolites are of great interest to man and impart uses as drugs, oils, waxes, perfumes, flavoring agents, dyes and many other commercially important materials. Secondary metabolites led to the emergence of a new research discipline of plant metabolomics, committed to detection and identification of biosynthetic pathways of these compounds, their structural elucidation and applications. The review provides an insight into the diversity of plant secondary metabolites, their classification, biosynthesis, biological properties and their multidimensional prospective in plant life.