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
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
He has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the prosecutor’s office.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The police already had an active warrant out for her arrest for a second degree harassment charge, according to the report.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
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Adjective
Read, 45, faced charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, while allegedly driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
He has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the prosecutor’s office.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
Both former wrestlers were charged with racketeering in the first degree, money laundering by promoting in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, promoting gambling by bookmaking in the third degree, and possession of gambling records in the third degree.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The police already had an active warrant out for her arrest for a second degree harassment charge, according to the report.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.
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