second degree
second degree — noun
1. a legal rank given to a crime that places it one level below the most serious ca
a legal rank given to a crime that places it one level below the most serious category of that crime, often because no advance planning was involved
Mr. Kowalski was found guilty of second degree rather than first and avoided the death penalty.
contrast with first degree in legal context
In Oregon, a charge of second degree for assault can still mean years in prison.
charged with second degree + specific crime type
Because the killing was not planned, the court reduced the charge to second degree.
Dewi studied the difference between first and second degree in her criminal law textbook.
first vs. second degree comparison
- reduce to second degree
- charge with second degree
- guilty of second degree
- convicted of second degree
- lesser charge
focuses on the reduced severity rather than the ranking itself
- reduced charge
emphasises that the charge was lowered from a higher level
- first degree
the most serious level of the same crime category
Grammar Patterns
charged with second degree
reduced to second degree
Usage Note
In US law, first degree is the most serious level; second degree is one step lower. The specific definition varies by state.
Common Mistakes
2. a university qualification that a person works toward after already receiving th
a university qualification that a person works toward after already receiving their first degree; it can be another bachelor's degree or an advanced degree such as a master's
After finishing her bachelor's degree in history, Allison decided to pursue a second degree in nursing.
pursue a second degree in [different field]
Hyun is studying for a second degree in economics while working at a local bank.
Many professionals take a second degree to enter a completely different career field.
take a second degree for career change
Maeve completed her second degree in computer science in just eighteen months.
- pursue a second degree
- complete a second degree
- study for a second degree
- a second degree in [subject]
- postgraduate degree
specifically refers to a master's or doctorate, not a second bachelor's
- further degree
more general term for any degree earned after the first
- first degree
the initial undergraduate qualification
Grammar Patterns
pursue a second degree
complete a second degree
Common Mistakes
second degree — adjective
1. describing a burn that damages the outer and middle layers of skin, causing blis
describing a burn that damages the outer and middle layers of skin, causing blisters and swelling, but is not as severe as a third-degree burn
The doctor said the burn on Zola's forearm was second-degree and needed daily dressing changes.
second-degree + burn (medical diagnosis context)
Sahil got second-degree burns on both hands after grabbing a hot metal pan.
Mateo was rushed to the hospital with second-degree burns after the gas stove caught fire.
Second-degree burns usually heal within two to three weeks if the wound is kept clean.
healing timeline for second-degree burns
- second-degree burn
- second-degree burns on [body part]
- suffer second-degree burns
- partial-thickness burn
the formal medical term for a second-degree burn
- first-degree burn
less severe — affects only the outer skin layer
- third-degree burn
more severe — destroys all skin layers
Grammar Patterns
second-degree + burn noun
Usage Note
In medical classification, first-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer, second-degree burns go deeper and cause blisters, and third-degree burns destroy all skin layers.
Common Mistakes
2. describing a medical injury or illness that falls in the middle of a three-level
describing a medical injury or illness that falls in the middle of a three-level severity scale, being more serious than the mildest form but less serious than the worst
The surgeon classified the tear in Noa's knee ligament as second-degree, requiring surgery to repair it.
second-degree + ligament tear (graded injury)
A second-degree ankle sprain usually takes six to eight weeks to heal properly.
Selim's doctor told him that his second-degree shoulder strain would need physical therapy.
Second-degree frostbite causes blisters and can lead to permanent numbness in the affected area.
second-degree frostbite — specific medical condition
- second-degree sprain
- second-degree strain
- second-degree tear
- second-degree frostbite
- first-degree
the mildest level of the same condition
- third-degree
the most severe level of the same condition
Grammar Patterns
second-degree + injury/condition noun
Usage Note
In medical grading systems, the terms first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree are used for various conditions including sprains, strains, frostbite, and hemorrhoids, though the exact criteria differ by condition.
Common Mistakes
3. describing a crime that belongs to the second most serious level in a legal clas
describing a crime that belongs to the second most serious level in a legal classification system, typically involving harm that was not carried out with advance planning
Henrik was charged with second-degree murder after the fight outside the bar turned deadly.
second-degree murder — most common use of this sense
The suspect faces a second-degree assault charge for injuring the security guard during the robbery.
In this state, second-degree manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Cyrus was found guilty of second-degree robbery for threatening the store clerk with a knife.
second-degree + specific crime type (robbery)
- second-degree murder
- second-degree assault
- second-degree robbery
- second-degree manslaughter
- Class B felony
a different classification system used in some US states with different grading criteria
- first-degree
the most serious level of the same crime, typically involving premeditation
Grammar Patterns
second-degree + crime noun (murder, assault, robbery)
Usage Note
While 'second degree' as a noun (sense 1) refers to the classification concept itself, the adjective form 'second-degree' always modifies a specific crime name and is hyphenated.