first degree

1 of 2

noun

US : the level of a crime that is the most serious and warranting the most severe punishment

first-degree

2 of 2

adjective

first-de·​gree ˈfərst-di-ˈgrē 

1

US : of the most serious type : warranting the harshest punishment

first-degree murder/theft/arson

2

: of the least harmful or mildest type

first-degree frostbite

see also first-degree burn

Examples of first degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Davis was arrested in September 2023 and has been charged with first degree murder. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025

Deshawn Allen, 29, was booked into Broward County’s Main Jail on a first degree murder charge after a shooting early Monday morning. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Court records show Sarner remains in prison in connection with his arrest in New York on first-degree robbery and other charges. —Greg Smith, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025

Natalie Cochran was recently convicted of first-degree murder for killing her husband in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. —Steve Weisman, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first degree

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Medical Definition

first-degree

adjective

ˈfərst-di-ˈgrē 

: of the lowest or mildest in a series of categories : characterized by or causing the least harmful level of injury

a first-degree laceration

see also first-degree burn compare second-degree, third-degree

Legal Definition

first degree

noun

: the grade given to the most serious forms of crimes

burglary in the first degree

first-degree adjective