second class

¹

noun

1. the class of travel accommodations, as on a train, that are less costly and luxurious than first class but are more costly and luxurious than third class. Compare cabin class.
2. (in the U.S. Postal Service) the class of mail consisting of newspapers and periodicals not sealed against postal inspection.
3. the second of three honors degrees conferred by a British university.

second-class

²

[ sek-uhnd-klas, -klahs ]

adjective

1. of a secondary class or quality.
2. second-rate; inferior.

adverb

1. by second-class mail or passenger accommodations:

   to travel second-class.

second class

noun

1. the class or grade next in value, quality, etc, to the first

adjective

1. of the class or grade next to the best in quality, etc
2. shoddy or inferior
3. of or denoting the class of accommodation in a hotel or on a train, etc, lower in quality and price than first class
4. 1. (in Britain) of or relating to mail that is processed more slowly than first-class mail
   2. (in the US and Canada) of or relating to mail that consists mainly of newspapers, etc
5. education See second 1

adverb

1. by second-class mail, transport, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of second class¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Origin of second class²

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

But the UN's latest fact-finding mission in the country says women "still live in a system that relegates them to second class citizens".

From BBC

Using a dog whistle, then, "is threatening for democracy because democracy is all about equality, not making some people into second class citizens."

From Salon

It had proposed axing second class mail on Saturdays as well alternate weekday deliveries - both of which options are now being examined by Ofcom.

From BBC

Ofcom will assess whether changes to the second class service are needed, while first class deliveries remain at six days a week.

From BBC

But it also said that it had missed its 98.5% target of second class post being delivered in three working days.

From BBC