third degree

1 of 2

noun

1

a

: the subjection of a prisoner to mental or physical torture to extract a confession

In its ruling the Court also criticized contemporary interrogation practices, finding in effect that a psychological third degree had replaced the physical third degree.

—Edwin Dobb

b

: a long and intense period of questioning

I don't know what kind of first dates you are having, but it might benefit you to make them more casual … so a conversation won't become a third degree.

—Abigail Van Buren

—usually used with the

My mother put me through the third degree. Questions—questions—questions. She's driving me nuts!

—Judy Blume

Should anyone give you the third degree on your return to work, don't hesitate to become indignant and stomp out of the room.

—Jeff Foxworthy

2

US : the level of a crime that is less than second degree and warrants less severe punishment

third-degree

2 of 2

adjective

third-de·​gree ˈthərd-di-ˈgrē 

1

US, of a crime : of a level of seriousness that is less than second-degree : warranting punishment but less severe punishment than that for a second-degree crime

2

: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury

a third-degree concussion

see also third-degree burn

Examples of third degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The production company dropped the movie from its slate after Majors was found guilty in December 2023 of two misdemeanor charges — assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree, related to a March 2023 incident involving his ex-girlfriend. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Oct. 2024

She was arrested in 2017 and convicted of grand larceny in the first, second third degree as well as theft of services in 2019. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024

Adjective

The third-degree felony is related to the case of the Olmos Park real estate agent who's been missing since Oct. 7. —Megan Stringer, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024

Police said in a news release Monday morning that Kathleen Geiger of Westwood was arrested and charged with reckless homicide, a third-degree felony punishable by nine to 36 months in prison. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

third degree

noun

: brutal treatment of a prisoner by the police in order to get a confession

Medical Definition

third-degree

adjective

: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury

Third-degree frostbite involves skin and deeper subcutaneous tissues, resulting in the formation of hemorrhagic blisters as well as skin necrosis with permanent nerve damage.

—Emergency Medicine Reports

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

Legal Definition

third degree

noun

: the grade given to the third most serious forms of crimes

third-degree adjective