dissertation

noun

dis·​ser·​ta·​tion ˌdi-sər-ˈtā-shən 

: an extended usually written treatment of a subject

specifically : one submitted for a doctorate

wrote her dissertation on an obscure 16th-century poet

dissertational

ˌdi-sər-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of dissertation in a Sentence

He wrote his dissertation on an obscure 16th-century poet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yu earned her doctorate in 2017 with an award for best dissertation. —Steve Nadis, Wired News, 1 June 2025

Today, the doctoral dissertation that Robert Prevost produced in the mid-1980s is one of the most detailed glimpses into the early intellectual life of the man who became Pope Leo XIV this month. —Ruth Graham, New York Times, 22 May 2025

She was accused of plagiarizing parts of her 2012 book and doctoral dissertation at Columbia University. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 12 May 2025

There are plenty of interviews out there on podcasts and video of many of these tech CEOs and billionaires who are very comfortable today giving political dissertations outside of their work, and that I'm really fascinated by. —H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dissertation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

dissertation

noun

dis·​ser·​ta·​tion ˌdis-ər-ˈtā-shən 

: a long usually written treatment of a subject