in the first degree

idiom

: of the most serious type : deserving the harshest punishment

She was accused of murder in the first degree.

Examples of in the first degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Both Hankins and Coster pleaded guilty to one count of hindering prosecution in the first degree, a class 5 felony, on November 8, 2022. —

Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024 Aliya Fakhri was indicted by a grand jury for four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024 Eisen found that approximately 1 in 10 cases in which the most serious charge was falsifying business records in the first degree resulted in some term of imprisonment. —

Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman, Austin American-Statesman, 31 May 2024 The jury is now deciding the guilt or innocence of the defendant former president, Donald J. Trump, who has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. —

Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for in the first degree

Dictionary Entries Near in the first degree

in the firing line

in the first degree

in the (first) flush of

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation