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

He was arrested and booked into jail in connection with two felonies, first degree murder and drive-by shooting, according to police. —Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025

Also in February, a Lenexa man was charged with two counts of first degree murder after allegedly admitting to fatally shooting his mother and aunt in their home. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025

Adjective

Charges connected with Corder's death Tremaine Jones, 22, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety in the incident. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025

The partial verdict found Valle not guilty of two charges of first-degree intentional assault in the stabbings of Ryan Heinz and Thomas Connery, while jurors could not reach a verdict on first-degree reckless assault charges. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025

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