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

Kemp, 55, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault Tuesday for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Tacoma, Wash., mall parking lot. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

The man faces one count each of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action, according to court documents. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025

Noun

But if the jurors in this case can get over that discomfort, Karen Read could soon be doing a mandatory 20 years for second degree murder. —Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025

Read is charged with second degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving a scene of personal injury and death. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 3 June 2025

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