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.

A gifted orator, Jackson articulated the frustrations of those who felt like second-class citizens in the world's most prosperous democracy.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Soon it came to mean tawdry and second-class goods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

"We've become second-class Swiss citizens," lamented Joana, a 35-year-old mother of two, declining to give her surname for professional reasons.

From Barron's • Oct. 19, 2025

I told Stan and Marjory that I had passed matriculation, but omitted mentioning that it was with a second-class certificate.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

second-class

Example Sentences

Related Words