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
Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The suspect in Thompson’s death, Mangione, a Gilman graduate, faces five charges in New York, the most serious being second-degree murder, which in New York is roughly the same as Maryland’s first degree murder statute.
—Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 17 Dec. 2024
Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors in Manhattan filed multiple charges against the Ivy League graduate, including a count of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-degree 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Mangione is also accused of second-degree murder for allegedly intentionally causing Thompson's death, and of second-degree murder that is specifically committed as a crime of terrorism.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The suspect in Thompson’s death, Mangione, a Gilman graduate, faces five charges in New York, the most serious being second-degree murder, which in New York is roughly the same as Maryland’s first degree murder statute.
—Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
Mangione faces five counts, including murder in the second degree, according to an arrest warrant.
—Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors in Manhattan filed multiple charges against the Ivy League graduate, including a count of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-degree
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 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share