second-degree

1 of 2

adjective

sec·​ond-degree ˈse-kən(d)-di-ˈgrē How to pronounce second-degree (audio)
-kᵊŋ-
1
US, of a crime : of a level of seriousness that is less than first degree : warranting punishment but not the most severe punishment
second-degree assault/murder
2
: causing or characterized by a moderate level of injury
a second-degree concussion
see also second-degree burn

second degree

2 of 2

noun

US
: the level of a crime that is less than first degree and warrants less severe punishment
He was charged with assault in the second degree.

Examples of second-degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
McRoy was taken into custody on Friday and charged with reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, failure to maintain lane, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and second-degree assault with a motor vehicle. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025 She has been charged with second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Noun
But if the jurors in this case can get over that discomfort, Karen Read could soon be doing a mandatory 20 years for second degree murder. Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025 Read is charged with second degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving a scene of personal injury and death. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for second-degree

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of second-degree was in 1682

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

second-degree

adjective
: causing or characterized by a moderate level of injury
a second-degree ankle sprain
see also second-degree burn compare first-degree, third-degree

Legal Definition

second degree

noun
sec·​ond degree
: the grade given to the second most serious forms of crimes
assault in the second degree
second-degree adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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