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

An arrest warrant charges him with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, court records show. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026

Leahy, 31, was charged with murder in the first degree with a deadly weapon enhancement on Monday, May 18, the prosecuting attorney's office tells PEOPLE. —Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026

Adjective

Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, the Hawaii Police Department said in a news release Saturday. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 June 2026

Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, of Pāhoa, Hawaii, faces one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths, the Hawaiʻi Police Department said in a news release on May 30. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1682, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first degree

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

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