second international: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “second international” mean?
The historical socialist and labor organization (1889–1916) that succeeded the First International.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The historical socialist and labor organization (1889–1916) that succeeded the First International.
Used attributively to describe the second major instance of a global event, competition, or agreement in a series (e.g., the second international conference on a topic).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling remains consistent. The historical term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily historical and political connotations related to socialism and labor movements. In extended use, neutral.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; higher in historical, political, and academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “second international” in a Sentence
the Second International + [past tense verb, e.g., was founded, met, collapsed]second international + [noun, e.g., congress, agreement, competition]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “second international” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She attended the second international symposium in Oxford.
- This is the bank's second international branch.
American English
- He's on his second international assignment for the firm.
- The team qualified for the second international round.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in 'second international subsidiary' or 'second international merger'.
Academic
Common in historical and political science texts discussing the late 19th/early 20th century socialist movement.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used for a second major overseas trip or event.
Technical
Used in historiography to specify the period and organization of socialist history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “second international”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “second international”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “second international”
- Capitalizing 'second international' when used as a general adjective (e.g., 'the second international flight').
- Confusing it with the 'Second World' or 'Second World War'.
- Using 'the' incorrectly (use 'the' for the historical entity, often omit for the attributive use).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring specifically to the historical political organization (1889-1916). It is a proper noun. When used as a general adjective (e.g., 'a second international summit'), it is not capitalized.
The First International (International Workingmen's Association, 1864-1876) was more ideologically diverse and shorter-lived. The Second International (1889-1916) was larger, more organized, and consisted mainly of socialist and labour parties. Its collapse is often associated with World War I.
Its use is very rare in everyday talk outside of historical discussion. You might use it in phrases like 'my second international holiday this year', but simpler phrasing like 'my second holiday abroad' is more common.
In American English, the 't' in 'international' often sounds like a soft 'd' or a flap [ɾ] (like the 'tt' in 'butter'). The stress is on the third syllable: in-ter-NA-tion-al.
The historical socialist and labor organization (1889–1916) that succeeded the First International.
Second international is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Second in line after the First International', like a sequel to a global political movement.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATIONS ARE BODIES (The Second International was founded, it met, it collapsed).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'second international' typically NOT capitalized?