number two

American  

noun

1. someone or something that is second in rank, order, or importance.

2. defecation: used especially by or with reference to children.

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idioms

1. make / do / go number two, to defecate: used especially by or with reference to children.

number two British  

noun

1. euphemistic the act or an instance of defecation

2. a haircut in which the hair is cut close to the head with an electric shaver

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Etymology

Origin of number two

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Going into Friday's listing, Musk's wealth stood at $782 billion, according to the Forbes list of the world's richest people, nearing three times that of number two, Google co-founder Larry Page.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

The 32-year-old began dabbling in the music world back in the 2010s, but his work really picked up steam in 2020 when his debut album Dissimulation shot to number two in the UK charts.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

A former world number two, Zverev has won 24 ATP titles in his career, including seven Masters crowns, is a two-time Tour Finals champion and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

The economy ministry noted that in particular there was now a "clear trade imbalance" between the world's number two and number three economies.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

It had the number two around its neck.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling