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
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026 No accountability, no justice A few weeks after Calicut’s release, another man convicted of second-degree murder based on a statement obtained by Simon was also freed. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Kia D. Goosby, Vanity Fair, 25 Apr. 2026 Willie James Little, 57, was arrested April 16 and charged with second degree rape and first degree burglary, CMPD said in an April 23 news release. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
In September 2011, Rapo was sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison after previously pleading no contest — which cannot be used as evidence of guilt in a civil matter — to second-degree manslaughter. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026 No accountability, no justice A few weeks after Calicut’s release, another man convicted of second-degree murder based on a statement obtained by Simon was also freed. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
My family kind of has a second degree of separation, because my father grew up in Gary. —Kia D. Goosby, Vanity Fair, 25 Apr. 2026 Willie James Little, 57, was arrested April 16 and charged with second degree rape and first degree burglary, CMPD said in an April 23 news release. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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