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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of the benefit of rereading appears to accrue from the second reading, with diminishing returns from additional repetitions. —John Dunlosky, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2015

For the second reading, Harris led the crowd a block down the street to the historic 4th Avenue Black Business District, where Jahman Hill performed two poems in the stone amphitheater across from the Masonic Temple Building. —Shauna Stuart | [e-mail], al, 5 Apr. 2023

With a favorable Finance Committee report, the bills will head to the full Senate for a second reading. —Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2023

The state Senate approved the bill 28-21 on second reading, with five Republicans and all Democrats voting against. —Barbara Barrett, al, 12 Feb. 2023

An ordinance prohibiting sales of dogs or cats by retail pet stores in Valparaiso unanimously passed a first reading by the Valparaiso City Council Feb. 13, with the second reading and final vote scheduled for the Feb. 27. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2023

Laguna Beach adopted an ordinance prohibiting the sale, public use and distribution of balloons with a second reading at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. —Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023

After the second reading, in Spanish, Cupich spoke. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022

The ordinance, which if approved at a second reading Feb. 8 would take effect in March, also seeks to rein in lingering issues that have cropped up as more homes around Tahoe are converted into full-time rental properties. —Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Jan. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1