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

Gray’s father is later arrested and indicted on 29 counts, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder and cruelty to children. —CNN, 21 Nov. 2024

Quiles, 20, was charged with fourth-degree arson, fifth-degree arson and second-degree reckless endangerment, police said. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

Noun

He’s been offered a deal for two years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to second degree assault. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 18 Sep. 2024

More than six years after Garcia’s death, the jury found Joplin guilty of all charges: murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and theft in the first degree. —Xander Samaras, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

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