US
: the level of a crime that is the most serious and warranting the most severe punishment
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
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The 28-year-old man was charged with two counts of first degree murder, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 May 2025
Three men facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old in East Baltimore are being held without bond.
—Jessica Babb, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for first degree
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Noun
Anacreon, of Malden, was previously charged with first degree murder, misleading a police officer and misleading an attorney, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The 28-year-old man was charged with two counts of first degree murder, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Adjective
According to the probable cause statement filed in court and obtained by KSDK, FOX 2 and First Alert 4, 34-year-old Karl Mayberry was arrested on Wednesday, May 7, and charged with first-degree murder for the December 2021 shooting of his partner, 31-year-old Alvatyne Thomas.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 May 2025
Three men facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old in East Baltimore are being held without bond.
—Jessica Babb, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for first degree
Cite this Entry
“First degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20degree. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
first-degree
adjective
: 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
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