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
Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
Ryan McLaughlin, a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, implored the jury to find Coleman guilty of first degree murder for both counts on the basis that Coleman exhibited intent, premeditation and deliberation.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Under Maryland law, first-degree felony murder applies when a death occurs during the commission of certain crimes, such as robbery, regardless of whether the suspect intended to kill.
—John Romero, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
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Noun
He has been charged with felony first degree burglary, felony breaking and entering with intent to terrorize, and misdemeanor first degree trespass, police said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
Ryan McLaughlin, a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, implored the jury to find Coleman guilty of first degree murder for both counts on the basis that Coleman exhibited intent, premeditation and deliberation.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for the 2021 first-degree murder of his father-in-law and attempted murder of his mother-in-law in Lake Tahoe.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Under Maryland law, first-degree felony murder applies when a death occurs during the commission of certain crimes, such as robbery, regardless of whether the suspect intended to kill.
—John Romero, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
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 7 Mar. 2026.
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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