second-line
adjective
sec·ond-line
ˈse-kᵊn(d)-ˈlīn 
: not being the usual or preferred choice
second-line drugs to treat tuberculosis
compare first-line
Examples of second-line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Man, Interpol, Royal Blood, Waxahatchee, Dinosaur Jr., Miike Snow, Del Water Gap, Holly Humberstone, Chicano Batman, Yves Tumor, Metric, the Revivalists, and Matt and Kim.
Arcade Fire have also notably received second-line billing for the festival’s opening night.
—
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
The concert feels like a second-line parade, a kind of post-pandemic celebration for thousands of R.&B.-loving shut-ins.
—Danielle Amir Jackson Malike Sidibe, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
It was originally designed for the management of type two diabetes and is given to these patients as a second-line medication for when diet and exercise aren’t enough to control their blood glucose level.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
By modulating your serotonin and cannabinoid receptors, CBD demonstrates its potential as a second-line treatment for multiple conditions.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
Fallston is coming off a 4-6 season but boasts one of the best second-line defenders in the county.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023
The couple celebrated with a second-line band as guests paraded around the dance floor, a New Orleans tradition in honor of Roy’s hometown.
—Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2023
Krejci didn’t show much rust following a one-year stint in his native Czechia, posting 56 points in 70 games in his usual perch as the second-line pivot this past season.
—Conor Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2023
Despite our best intentions, the supply-chain failure from large pharmaceutical companies forced me to change my prescribing practice and select second-line therapies for treating pneumonia or ear infections.
—Nishant Pandya, STAT, 8 May 2023
See More
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
The concert feels like a second-line parade, a kind of post-pandemic celebration for thousands of R.&B.-loving shut-ins.
—Danielle Amir Jackson Malike Sidibe, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
It was originally designed for the management of type two diabetes and is given to these patients as a second-line medication for when diet and exercise aren’t enough to control their blood glucose level.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
By modulating your serotonin and cannabinoid receptors, CBD demonstrates its potential as a second-line treatment for multiple conditions.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
Fallston is coming off a 4-6 season but boasts one of the best second-line defenders in the county.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023
The couple celebrated with a second-line band as guests paraded around the dance floor, a New Orleans tradition in honor of Roy’s hometown.
—Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2023
Krejci didn’t show much rust following a one-year stint in his native Czechia, posting 56 points in 70 games in his usual perch as the second-line pivot this past season.
—Conor Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2023
Despite our best intentions, the supply-chain failure from large pharmaceutical companies forced me to change my prescribing practice and select second-line therapies for treating pneumonia or ear infections.
—Nishant Pandya, STAT, 8 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near second-line
Cite this Entry
“Second-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-line. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
second-line
adjective
sec·ond-line
ˌsek-ᵊn(d)-ˌlīn
: being or using a drug that is not the usual or preferred choice compare first-line
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share