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
Maggie Ybarra, Baltimore Sun, 28 Dec. 2024
Blanchard is believed to be a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and was famously convicted of second-degree murder for her mother’s death.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 28 Dec. 2024
Erin Keller, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
New York state prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione, 26, with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder, including a count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism, and several weapons charges related to the Dec. 4 shooting.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Adjective
Wiggins is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault.
—Maggie Ybarra, Baltimore Sun, 28 Dec. 2024
Blanchard is believed to be a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and was famously convicted of second-degree murder for her mother’s death.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
But there is no death penalty in New York and both first and second degree murder carry a potential life sentence in prison, so the terrorism charge doesn't add much except for the minimum sentence Mangione may receive.
—Erin Keller, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
New York state prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione, 26, with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder, including a count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism, and several weapons charges related to the Dec. 4 shooting.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-degree
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Cite this Entry
“Second-degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-degree. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
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