less important than other people
Example:
- Older people should not be treated as second-class citizens.
of a lower standard or quality than the best
Example:
- a second-class education
connected with the less expensive way of travelling on a train, ship, etc.
Example:
- second-class carriages/compartments/passengers
(in the UK) connected with letters, packages, etc. that you pay less to send and that are delivered less quickly
Example:
- second-class letters/stamps
(in the US) connected with the system of sending newspapers and magazines by mail
used to describe a British university degree which is good but not of the highest class
Example:
- Applicants should have at least a second-class honours degree.