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

Falcone was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit assault first degree, conspiracy to commit assault second degree, and conspiracy to commit theft between $1500 and $25000. — CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Hughes, 38, has been charged with felony first degree burglary, misdemeanor breaking and entering, and misdemeanor injury to property, the sheriff’s office said. — Mark Price november 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2026

Adjective

Prosecutors said Skander was charged with three counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026

Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested later the same day and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 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