thesis

noun

the·sis ˈthē-səs

British especially for sense 3 ˈthe-sis

plural theses ˈthē-ˌsēz

Synonyms of thesis next

: a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view

especially : one written by a candidate for an academic degree

: a proposition to be proved or one advanced without proof : hypothesis

: a position or proposition that a person (such as a candidate for scholastic honors) advances and offers to maintain by argument

a(1)

: the unstressed part of a poetic foot especially in accentual verse

(2)

: the longer part of a poetic foot especially in quantitative verse

: the accented part of a musical measure : downbeat compare arsis

: the first and least adequate stage of dialectic compare synthesis

Did you know?

In high school, college, or graduate school, students often have to write a thesis on a topic in their major field of study. In many fields, a final thesis is the biggest challenge involved in getting a master's degree, and the same is true for students studying for a Ph.D. (a Ph.D. thesis is often called a dissertation). But a thesis may also be an idea; so in the course of the paper the student may put forth several theses (notice the plural form) and attempt to prove them.

Example Sentences

She wrote her thesis on Renaissance Nativity scenes. a master's thesis on the effects of global warming New evidence supports his thesis. We disagreed with the basic thesis of the report. The book's central thesis is that propaganda influences the masses in important ways.

Recent Examples on the Web The ostensible documentary Plandemic, starring Ph.D. virologist Judy Mikovits, ratcheted up millions of views with the central thesis that coronavirus is a planned hoax. —

David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 26 Apr. 2021 Subverted, the one-woman play Fishback wrote and starred in for her thesis project at Pace University, alone contains 22 different characters. —

Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2021 That’s been a very good early [indication] the investment thesis worked. —

Ksenia Galouchko, Bloomberg.com, 19 Oct. 2020 Olivia Galli Olivia Galli’s thesis at Parsons School of Design focused on the matriarchy within her family. —

Ella Riley-Adams, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2020 Ali even gave her dad a touching tribute in the dedication of her thesis. —

Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 29 May 2023 At Stanford University, Cannold directed a production of the rock opera for her thesis. —

Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023 My ‘breaking things’ thesis on the Fed remains intact. —

Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 6 May 2023 Working in the lab of EVA biochemist Matthias Meyer, Essel took up the challenge in 2017 as part of her thesis. —

science.org, 3 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in sense 3, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Time Traveler

The first known use of thesis was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century