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

Read, 45, had faced up to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder, the top-level offense charged against her. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025

Hendrix's sister Tiakayla and a third person, Roy Chambers, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree arson, WHEC reported. —Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Noun

The 1993 conviction in Alameda County was for second degree robbery and the 2009 conviction in Alameda County was for felon in possession of a firearm. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025

In May, a Virginia man was charged with second degree murder for fatally shooting an 18-year-old filming the prank for TikTok, The New York Times reported. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 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