second-class

ADJECTIVE

inferior

Synonyms

WEAK

average bad base common déclassé fair good-for-nothing hack imperfect indifferent junk lemon lousy low-grade low-quality low-rent mean mediocre middling ordinary paltry poorer sad second-rate shabby sorry substandard tawdry two-bit worse wretched

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Under segregation, black Americans generally shared a common experience of being second-class citizens.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

For much of its history printmaking has been relegated to second-class citizenship, with works that are viewed as less than equal to one-offs in other media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

That followed an investigation by Ofcom after Royal Mail missed its targets for both first and second-class post in 2024-25.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

We are fortunate to have warriors like Crenshaw who refuse to accept second-class status.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

They wished to be seen as individuals, full and equal citizens who could not be told to leave or treated as second-class members of society.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

second-class

Example Sentences

Related Words