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

Students were similarly prohibited from writing dissertations on such subjects. — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

The AfD’s Weidel lived in China for six years, speaks Mandarin, and wrote her doctoral dissertation about China’s pension system. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026

But in his 2021 doctoral dissertation, Martínez-Zoroa pioneered analytic techniques that don’t rely on computers at all. — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

Zavataro is also a PhD candidate at the University of Reading in England, with a dissertation focused on museum audience engagement. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026

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