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
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
Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Stacey Wondra, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech told the Idaho Statesman.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 31 Oct. 2025
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
He had also been charged with murder in the first degree (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, but those two counts were dismissed by Judge Gregory Carro in an order filed last month.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
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Adjective
Cruz is set to serve 15 years in prison after agreeing to a plea deal from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which also reduced a second-degree murder charge to first-degree manslaughter.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Stacey Wondra, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech told the Idaho Statesman.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Desma Shaiann Flanders, 32, was booked into jail on Wednesday and charged with second degree murder.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
He had also been charged with murder in the first degree (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, but those two counts were dismissed by Judge Gregory Carro in an order filed last month.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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