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

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

At the second reading, Stephen Schwartz has more music for Glinda. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2025

The ordinance adopted Tuesday will supersede previous sanctuary city resolutions if approved on second reading during a future council meeting. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025

Under county rules, the plan will return to the board for what’s called a second reading later this month and go into effect after that is approved. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 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