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

According to Miami-Dade County court records, Quinn has several arrests dating back to February 2007, when he was charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary, which were eventually dropped. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025

The driver now faces a second-degree murder charge, CHP officials said. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025

Noun

Lino was charged with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025

Pierre Jackson, 26, pleaded no contest to second degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of 25-year-old Dejante Kennedy. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025

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