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

Suspense and horror films typically get second-class treatment at fall film festivals, often relegated to midnight slots and left out of award season conversations. —Gregg Goldstein, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024

Top Aussie commanders like General Thomas Blamey, who had to deal with the general’s abrasive command style personally, felt they were treated as second-class allies and ignored in decision-making. —Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024

Noun

And there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools. —Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 9 Sep. 2024

There’s nothing inherent in the technology of labor platforms that requires gig workers to be treated as second class citizens. —James A. Parrott, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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