second reading

noun

1

: the stage in the British legislative process following the first reading and usually providing for debate on the principal features of a bill before its submission to a committee for consideration of details

2

: the stage in the U.S. legislative process that occurs when a bill has been reported back from committee and that provides an opportunity for full debate and amendment before a vote is taken on the question of a third reading

Examples of second reading in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The House expected to hear the bill on second reading at a later date. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026

The package will still need to pass a second reading at a future council meeting. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026

The council on Tuesday advanced the measure from its first to second reading, with a vote expected after the third reading sometime in coming weeks. —Idaho Statesman, 4 Dec. 2025

Another of the bills will appear on the same agenda for a public hearing and its second reading, while the last of the four has been deferred until after the new year. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for second reading

• bedding
• dreading
• heading
• shedding
• shredding
• sledding
• spreading
• threading
• treading
• wedding
• beheading
• embedding