second-degree

1 of 2

adjective

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

second degree

2 of 2

noun

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

Adjective

Court documents show Andrew Nietz pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder on Friday. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 3 May 2026

Alice was convicted of second-degree murder that same year and died in prison in June 2019 at the age of 80. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

Noun

Jackson has since been charged with several offenses including first and second degree murder. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026

Ashley Mack and Mia Shaw were both charged with armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and second degree burglary, according to a news release from Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for second-degree

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee

Medical Definition

second-degree

adjective

: causing or characterized by a moderate level of injury

a second-degree ankle sprain

see also second-degree burn compare first-degree, third-degree

Legal Definition

second degree

noun

sec·​ond degree

: the grade given to the second most serious forms of crimes

assault in the second degree

second-degree adjective