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

According to a filing by the state in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, 22-year-old Kiera Lyons and 31-year-old Maura Flores committed first degree battery against a gate agent on May 15 while attempting to fly out of Orlando International Airport. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

When the trial eventually happened, Gein was tried with first degree murder and pled guilty by reason of insanity. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Gein was arraigned on a single count of first-degree murder for Worden's death. —Jr Radcliffe, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025

Shadolla Peterson pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and received a six-year probationary sentence, while Pike's then-boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life. —Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 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