second-class

1 of 2

adjective

sec·​ond-class ˈse-kən(d)-ˈklas 

-kᵊŋ-

1

: of or relating to a second class

2

: mediocre

also : socially, politically, or economically deprived

second class

2 of 2

noun

1

: the second and usually next to highest group in a classification

2

: cabin class

3

: a class of U.S. or Canadian mail comprising periodicals sent to regular subscribers

Synonyms

Adjective

• inferior
• mean
• minor
• second-rate
• secondary

Examples of second-class in a Sentence

Adjective

a playwright who produced only second-class work when he turned his hand to poetry

it's only a second-class restaurant and not worth the high prices

Noun

The airline offers special services for travelers in first and second class.

She got an upper second class in English at Oxford.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ever since the Japanese takeover, the islanders have complained of being second-class citizens. —Martin Fackler, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

Their ascent through the 80s Los Angeles music scene—no easy matter in an industry that treated women like second-class citizens, or worse—and ultimate foundering are meticulously chronicled in Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles. —airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025

Noun

The outlet named its first round of two-year fellows in July 2023 and the second class in May 2024. —Sara Fischer, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025

What kind of lawyer asks the Supreme Court for second class rights — for anyone? —Wendy Murphy, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for second-class

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

Kids Definition

second-class

adjective

1

: of or relating to a class next below the first or highest class

2

a

: inferior entry 1 sense 3, mediocre

b

: deprived of wealth or social rank