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 measure, which passed on the consent calendar as its second reading, establishes protections to ensure that city facilities and contracts are not used to facilitate discrimination, unlawful detention, or the criminalization of individuals based on immigration status. —Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

The village’s request is moving through the Illinois Senate and was scheduled for a second reading on March 10. —Alice Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

City Council members approved a funding request from LSGOAL26, the volunteer group that is organizing World Cup activities in the city, at their meeting Tuesday night and forwarded the item on to a second reading at a future meeting. —Nathan Pilling march 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026

Approved unanimously on second reading, the measure allows dollars previously reserved for advertising to be redirected toward sports complex debt service or operating costs, if the project moves forward. —Josh Davis, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026

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