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
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
Both Reyes, of Gorham, N.Y. and Glover of Selden, N.Y. were arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace, voyeurism with malice and first-degree criminal trespassing, police said.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 July 2025
Undocumented people were charged in 11 homicides statewide during the three-month period, including first degree murder (3), second degree murder (1), and vehicular homicide (7).
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
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Adjective
Perkins has called on Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey to resign from the post after the jury acquitted Read of second-degree murder in the death of her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a charge Perkins says signals an inexperienced prosecutor.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
Both Reyes, of Gorham, N.Y. and Glover of Selden, N.Y. were arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace, voyeurism with malice and first-degree criminal trespassing, police said.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
Noun
In exchange for her guilty plea, her charge was reduced from first degree to second degree murder.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 July 2025
Undocumented people were charged in 11 homicides statewide during the three-month period, including first degree murder (3), second degree murder (1), and vehicular homicide (7).
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 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 24 Jul. 2025.
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