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

Now, Miller will serve a 26-month prison sentence after being convicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide, maintaining a dangerous dog and two counts of criminal mistreatment in the first degree. —Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, is facing two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon in the deaths of USF students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. —Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Keyonna Waddell, 35, of Deer Park on Long Island, was found guilty by a jury on Friday of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the March 2024 incident. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Those were among the details in a court document prosecutors filed Saturday as part of a request to keep Abugharbieh, 26, jailed while awaiting trial on charges that include two counts of first-degree murder. —Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 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