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
Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
He is charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of felony firearm possession and two counts of assault by pointing a firearm.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Opening arguments in the trial of Christopher Schurr, the former Grand Rapids police officer who is charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya, began in a Michigan courtroom on Monday morning.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
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Adjective
He was found guilty of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 17 years to life with the possibility of parole.
—Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
He is charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of felony firearm possession and two counts of assault by pointing a firearm.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
The suspect in a car-ramming attack that killed 11 people and injured dozens at a Filipino festival in Vancouver on Saturday has been charged with eight counts of second degree murder.
—Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Opening arguments in the trial of Christopher Schurr, the former Grand Rapids police officer who is charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya, began in a Michigan courtroom on Monday morning.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-degree
Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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