sec·ond-class
ˈse-kən(d)-ˈklas 
-kᵊŋ-
1
: of or relating to a second class
2
: mediocre
also
: socially, politically, or economically deprived
1
: the second and usually next to highest group in a classification
2
3
: a class of U.S. or Canadian mail comprising periodicals sent to regular subscribers
Synonyms
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
Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
In too many places, women remain second-class citizens.
—World Economic Forum, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Bruce Martin, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for second-class 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
From this point on, first-class seats are in compartments, while second-class seats are airline-style.
—Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
In too many places, women remain second-class citizens.
—World Economic Forum, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s second class in 2011, is a five-time NASCAR champion – Cup Series (1983), Modified Division (1964, ’65) and Modified Special Division (1962, ’63).
—Bruce Martin, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for second-class
Dictionary Entries Near second-class
Cite this Entry
“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-class. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share