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

As a result, the suspect Ronald D. Davis, 55, is facing an additional charge of first degree murder in the commission of a home invasion, police said. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025

Deron Wolfe, 19, of the 1800 block of West Adams in Chicago, is charged with first degree murder in the Oct. 20 shooting death of Jess Kendall, an 18-year-old Elgin High School senior. —Elgin Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025

Adjective

On Tuesday, he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for Giles' and Cabrales-Arzola's fatal overdoses. —Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025

Mangione pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges in the indictment, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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