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

Their son Nick, who was charged with two counts of first degree murder, allegedly stabbed his parents after an argument at Oscars host Conan O’Brien’s holiday party. —Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026

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

Adjective

Francisco Marrero, 79, is facing multiple charges of organized fraud, first-degree grand theft, practicing accounting without a license, and money laundering. —Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Holder is facing a slew of charges, including felony murder, a first-degree murder charge when a killing occurs during the commission of a dangerous felony, regardless of whether the killing was intentional or accidental. —Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 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