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

Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, has pleaded not guilty to nearly 30 charges, including two counts each of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026

Prosecutors argue that amounts to cruelty to children, and second-degree murder is defined in Georgia law as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. —John Raby, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026

Noun

Nero, of Elizabeth, is additionally charged with promoting prostitution of a minor in the second degree. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026

To the charge of murder in the second degree, the jury has found the defendant guilty. —Sarah Prior, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026

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