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
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
Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Department officials did not provide additional information about Valdez’s death, but on Friday announced that Thomas Perales, 38, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and violence of a protection order related to domestic violence.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
Yiggins has been charged with second degree robbery and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
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Adjective
The driver, Luis Torres Mujica, 30, a resident of Guanajuato, and his passenger, Jesse Joe Camacho, 28, of McAllen, Texas, were arrested and charged with theft of property and firearm smuggling, a second-degree felony.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Department officials did not provide additional information about Valdez’s death, but on Friday announced that Thomas Perales, 38, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and violence of a protection order related to domestic violence.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
Noun
Nelson pleaded guilty to second degree murder without intent; the other charges were dismissed.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
Yiggins has been charged with second degree robbery and assault.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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