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

The brothers were convicted by a single jury of first degree murder in March 1996, and sentenced that July to life in prison without parole. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 24 Oct. 2024

Gledhill is facing nine charges including one count of first degree murder, five counts of felony obstruction of justice, one count of tampering with a witness and one count of abuse or desecration of a dead human body, according to court records. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Aryan Vito Smith made an open plea to murder with a sentencing enhancement for using a deadly weapon March 8. Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson ruled Smith committed a first-degree murder after considering more evidence. —City News Service, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said it was informed Sunday that Hamlett, who had been sought on a first-degree murder warrant, was found and arrested in South Carolina. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

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