second-rate

adjective

sec·​ond-rate ˌse-kən(d)-ˈrāt 

: of second or inferior quality or value : mediocre

a second-rate restaurant

second-rateness noun

second-rater

ˌse-kən(d)-ˈrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• decent
• mediocre
• satisfactory
• second-class
• middling
• ordinary
• medium
• indifferent
• passable
• common
• run-of-the-mill
• fair
• so-so

Examples of second-rate in a Sentence

a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better

a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions

second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market

Recent Examples on the Web

Moreno said Bad Bunny is a second-rate performer and said his performing at the Super Bowl is a partisan choice. —Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025

The freshman quarterback has faced second-rate competition thus far and has daunting matchups next month. —Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025

Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture. —James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

The Hundred feels like a second-rate cartoon animation in comparison. —Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for second-rate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

second-rate

adjective

sec·​ond-rate

ˌsek-ən-ˈ(d)rāt

: of second or ordinary quality or value : mediocre