Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of inferior status, quality, or importance; not as good as the best or first class.
   • Relating to a class of mail, travel accommodations, etc., that is cheaper and less comfortable or slower than the first class.

2. Adverb:

   • By a class of mail, travel, etc., that is less expensive and lower in priority or quality than first class.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The team felt they were given second-class treatment compared to the visiting champions.
  • She traveled in a second-class cabin on the ship.
• Adverb:
  • He sent the package second-class to save money.
  • We flew second-class because it was more affordable.

Advanced Usage

• "to be treated as second-class": to be treated as less important or with fewer rights.
  • No employee should ever be treated as second-class.
• "second-class citizen": a person who is systematically discriminated against within a society or organization.
  • The new laws risk making an entire ethnic group feel like second-class citizens.

Variants and Related Words

• Second-class mail (n): a cheaper, slower class of postal service.
  • Magazines are often sent by second-class mail.
• Second-rate (adj): of poor or mediocre quality. (Note: This is a distinct, though related, adjective.)
  • The film was entertaining but ultimately second-rate.

Synonyms

• Inferior
• Substandard
• Lower-grade
• Economy (specific to travel)

Antonyms

• First-class
• Premium
• Top-tier

Related Phrases

• Second-class honours (n): In some university degree classification systems, a level of academic achievement below first-class honours.
  • He graduated with a second-class honours degree.

Adjective

1. of inferior status or quality
   • a second-class citizen
   • second-class accommodations