# second

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈsɛk.ənd/ · frequency rank #212

## Definitions
1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.

## Etymology
From Middle English secunde, second, secound, secund, borrowed from Old French second, seond, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order”), from root of sequor (“to follow”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Doublet of secund and secundo. Displaced native twoth and partially displaced native other (from Old English ōþer (“other; next; second”)).

## Easily confused with
- **send** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-send)
- **seton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-seton)
- **Seong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-seong)
- **Sedona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-sedona)
- **seconds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-seconds)
- **secondly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-secondly)
- **seconded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/second-vs-seconded)
- **scold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scold-vs-second)
- **scone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scone-vs-second)
- **2nd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/2nd-vs-second)

## Common misspellings (9)
`escond`, `sceond`, `seccond`, `secnod`, `secodn`, `secondd`, `seconnd`, `seocnd`, `ssecond`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/second