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
Alexis Stevens, ajc, 11 Sep. 2023
He was charged with second-degree murder and is awaiting extradition from New York to Virginia, Davis said.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023
Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2023
Officers took the other girl into custody on charges of second degree murder while armed, officials said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 29 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for second-degree 
Adjective
The boys’ father, Dante Daugherty, 42, was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree cruelty to children.
—Alexis Stevens, ajc, 11 Sep. 2023
He was charged with second-degree murder and is awaiting extradition from New York to Virginia, Davis said.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023
Noun
Leaving an unsecured weapon where a child can find it is considered a misdemeanor of the second degree.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2023
Officers took the other girl into custody on charges of second degree murder while armed, officials said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 29 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for second-degree
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-degree.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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