second-class
1 of 2adjective
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 2noun
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 28 June 2022 Aaron began his military training in the vessel's engine room and eventually received the rank of fireman second class. Arkansas Online, 6 June 2022 Warrior’s Charge’s phenylbutazone positive was also Cox’s second class C violation in a 365-day span, but this time the stewards were not as lenient. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 17 May 2022 The second class consisted of a variety of people, including women, former foster youths, formerly incarcerated individuals and veterans. Angelina Hicks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2022 The second class is composed of HLAs that present antigens found outside of the cell to T-helper cells. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2022 The shooter enters the school and begins shooting into a classroom, which is connected to a second class. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 27 May 2022 The Akron Fire Department has 20 new firefighter/medics who will graduate in May and a second class with 20 recruits this fall. Megan Becka, cleveland, 29 Mar. 2022 Tech non-profit Meedan told Quartz that companies are not taking proactive action to prevent moderators from experiencing trauma and the situation gets worse when moderators are treated as second class citizens. Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 21 July 2022 See More
Noun
Councilman Scott Willis was the lone vote in favor of moving Westfield to a second class city. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 28 June 2022 Aaron began his military training in the vessel's engine room and eventually received the rank of fireman second class. Arkansas Online, 6 June 2022 Warrior’s Charge’s phenylbutazone positive was also Cox’s second class C violation in a 365-day span, but this time the stewards were not as lenient. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 17 May 2022 The second class consisted of a variety of people, including women, former foster youths, formerly incarcerated individuals and veterans. Angelina Hicks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2022 The second class is composed of HLAs that present antigens found outside of the cell to T-helper cells. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2022 The shooter enters the school and begins shooting into a classroom, which is connected to a second class. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 27 May 2022 The Akron Fire Department has 20 new firefighter/medics who will graduate in May and a second class with 20 recruits this fall. Megan Becka, cleveland, 29 Mar. 2022 Tech non-profit Meedan told Quartz that companies are not taking proactive action to prevent moderators from experiencing trauma and the situation gets worse when moderators are treated as second class citizens. Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
circa 1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1
second-class
adjective
1
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit a playwright who produced only second-class work when he turned his hand to poetry Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inferior
- minor
- mean
- smaller
- secondary
- second-rate
- smaller
- ordinary
- lesser
- petty
- subordinate
- lower
- under
- junior
- average
- inadequate
- middling
- defective
- unsatisfactory
- low-level
- unacceptable
- insufficient
- wrong
- common
- deficient
- bad
- amiss
- slighter
- littler
- low-rent
- jerkwater
- two-bit
- fair
- one-horse
- small-time
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- higher
- greater
- superior
- more
- major
- senior
- primary
- premium
- prime
- first-class
- exceptional
- acceptable
- adequate
- sufficient
- selected
- choice
- select
- first-rate
- high-grade
2
as in ordinary
of average to below average quality it's only a second-class restaurant and not worth the high prices Synonyms & Similar Words
- ordinary
- decent
- satisfactory
- mediocre
- second-rate
- middling
- medium
- indifferent
- common
- passable
- run-of-the-mill
- respectable
- fair
- adequate
- acceptable
- so-so
- run-of-the-mine
- reasonable
- nice
- sufficient
- run-of-mine
- modest
- tolerable
- good
- fine
- alright
- all right
- moderate
- unexceptional
- okay
- minimal
- presentable
- sufficing
- OK
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- special
- superior
- excellent
- great
- outstanding
- maximum
- distinguished
- exceptional
- optimal
- supreme
- prime
- splendid
- top
- superlative
- classic
- optimum
- superb
- marvellous
- exquisite
- terrific
- marvelous
- first-class
- peerless
- par excellence
- stellar
- grand
- sterling
- choice
- sensational
- fantastic
- fabulous
- preeminent
- matchless
- capital
- swell
- nifty
- first-rate
- unparalleled
- top-notch
- unmatched
- inadequate
- unsurpassed
- tip-top
- unsatisfactory
- unacceptable
- number one
- A1
- insufficient
- deficient
- lacking
- No. 1
- wanting