SECOND-CLASS

(1) {adj.} 1. Belonging in the class that is next to the highest or next best. * /He was only a second-class math student./ * /His parents traveled as second-class passengers on the boat./ * /The periodical came as second-class mail./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS, THIRD-CLASS. 2. Not so good as others; second-rate. * /They were never given full democratic rights but were always treated as second-class citizens./ (2) {adv.} By second class. * /We went second-class on the train to New York./ * /I mailed the newspaper second-class./