second-year

UK: ˈsɛkənd jɪə | US: ˈsɛkənd jɪr

Definition

  1. adj. relating to the second year of a program, study, or period (e.g., second-year student).

  2. n. a student in their second year of a program (e.g., "The second-years organized the event.").

Structure
second <following first>year <period of 12 months>
Etymology

The word combines "second," derived from Latin secundus (meaning "following" or "next in order"), and "year," from Old English ġēar (a unit of time). The hyphenated form emerged in English to describe sequential academic or temporal divisions, emphasizing progression. The logic is straightforward: "second" specifies the ordinal position, while "year" anchors it in time.

Examples

  1. She is a second-year medical student at Harvard.

  2. The second-year curriculum includes advanced coursework.

  3. Second-years are eligible to apply for internships.

  4. He struggled during his second-year exams.

  5. The second-year team won the debate competition.