education: a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study
earned her four-year degree
associate's degrees
has a degree in psychology
b
: a grade of membership attained in a ritualistic order or society
received his first degree in the Knights of Columbus
c
: an academic title conferred to honor distinguished achievement or service
The actor was presented with an honorary degree.
d
: the formal ceremonies observed in the conferral of such a distinction
8
mathematics: a unit of measure for angles equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹/₃₆₀ of the circumference
a fifteen degree angle
47 degrees Latitude
also: a unit of measure for arcs of a circle equal to the amount of arc that subtends a central angle of one degree
9
archaic: a position or space on the earth or in the heavens as measured by degrees of latitude
10
music
a
: a step, note, or tone of a scale
b
: a line or space of the musical staff
11
: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument
specifically: any of various units for measuring temperature
350 degrees Fahrenheit
12
mathematics
a
: the sum of the exponents of the variables in the term of highest degree in a polynomial, polynomial function, or polynomial equation
: the greatest power of the derivative of highest order in a differential equation after the equation has been rationalized (see rationalizesense 2) and cleared of fractions with respect to the derivative
There are 360 degrees in a circle.
These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates.
Recent Examples on the WebAuthorities say Hutchinson graduated with a degree in fisheries wildlife biology and then worked for the Montana Bureau of Land Management for 22 years.—Stephen Smith, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024 The Bridge Magazine — Severn School’s alumni publication — revealed more about her accomplishments at school and her accolades after, which included earning a degree from Barton College while being a student-athlete.—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2024 On the Democratic side, there’s an energized, good feeling about Campaign Kamala—to a degree not felt, on a Presidential level, since Barack Obama’s last race—and nobody wants to mess that up with debates about policy.—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2024 Why not just turn up the thermostat a few degrees myself?—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for degree
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degree.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French degré, from Vulgar Latin *degradus, from Latin de- + gradus — see degrade
: the intensity of something as measured by degrees
murder in the first degree
b
: one of the forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb
3
: a rank or grade of official or social position
persons of high degree
4
a
: a grade of membership in an order or society
b
: a title given a student by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a program of study
a degree of doctor of medicine
c
: an academic title granted to honor a person who is not a student
5
: one of the divisions marked on a measuring instrument (as a device for measuring temperature)
6
: a unit of measure for angles and arcs that for angles is equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference and that for an arc of a circle is equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference
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