second-degree

1 of 2

adjective

sec·​ond-degree ˈse-kən(d)-di-ˈgrē 

-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

Adjective

The foreperson continued to second-degree murder. —Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025

The juvenile male, still unnamed, is charged with one count of capital murder, nine counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault, according to the Montgomery Police Department. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025

Noun

Cobb was arrested and charged with murder in the second degree and cruelty to children in the second degree, both felonies, police said. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025

Adair’s death was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner, and a Wyandotte County deputy has been charged with second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for second-degree

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee

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