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
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The 28-year-old man was charged with two counts of first degree murder, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 May 2025
The affidavit claims that when Austin went to try and physically move Anthony, the now 18-year-old then pulled the knife and stabbed Austin.
Anthony was charged with first-degree murder and was released after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000, per FOX 4.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for first degree
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Anacreon, of Malden, was previously charged with first degree murder, misleading a police officer and misleading an attorney, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The 28-year-old man was charged with two counts of first degree murder, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Adjective
Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was arrested after the shooting and on May 22 charged in D.C. with two counts of first-degree murder, and with federal counts of murdering foreign officials and firearm offenses.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 May 2025
The affidavit claims that when Austin went to try and physically move Anthony, the now 18-year-old then pulled the knife and stabbed Austin.
Anthony was charged with first-degree murder and was released after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000, per FOX 4.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 24 May 2025
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 28 May. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share