third degree

1 of 2

noun

1

a

: the subjection of a prisoner to mental or physical torture to extract a confession

In its ruling the Court also criticized contemporary interrogation practices, finding in effect that a psychological third degree had replaced the physical third degree.

—Edwin Dobb

b

: a long and intense period of questioning

I don't know what kind of first dates you are having, but it might benefit you to make them more casual … so a conversation won't become a third degree.

—Abigail Van Buren

—usually used with the

My mother put me through the third degree. Questions—questions—questions. She's driving me nuts!

—Judy Blume

Should anyone give you the third degree on your return to work, don't hesitate to become indignant and stomp out of the room.

—Jeff Foxworthy

2

US : the level of a crime that is less than second degree and warrants less severe punishment

third-degree

2 of 2

adjective

third-de·​gree ˈthərd-di-ˈgrē 

1

US, of a crime : of a level of seriousness that is less than second-degree : warranting punishment but less severe punishment than that for a second-degree crime

2

: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury

a third-degree concussion

see also third-degree burn

Examples of third degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her accusations led to the movie mogul being convicted of rape in the third degree, a verdict that was later overturned by a New York appeals court in April 2024. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Actor Jonathan Majors, who was to play Kang, was removed from the movie after a conviction for reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in 2023, as per The Hollywood Reporter. —Grace Dean, Space.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Adjective

David Coots, 43, of Gig Harbor, Wash., was arrested on March 11 after being charged with second-degree assault, third-degree rape and tampering with a witness, according to charging documents previously obtained by PEOPLE. —Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 8 May 2025

The discovery of the raccoon led to Vidal receiving multiple charges, including third-degree felony possession of drugs and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for third degree

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

third degree

noun

: brutal treatment of a prisoner by the police in order to get a confession

Medical Definition

third-degree

adjective

: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury

Third-degree frostbite involves skin and deeper subcutaneous tissues, resulting in the formation of hemorrhagic blisters as well as skin necrosis with permanent nerve damage.

—Emergency Medicine Reports

see also third-degree burn compare first-degree, second-degree

Legal Definition

third degree

noun

: the grade given to the third most serious forms of crimes

third-degree adjective