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

Also in February, a Lenexa man was charged with two counts of first degree murder after allegedly admitting to fatally shooting his mother and aunt in their home. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025

On Friday, June 20, the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office authorities said in a press statement that a grand jury indicted Barry on a first degree murder charge. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 20 June 2025

Adjective

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant to charge Daniels with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025

Lawrence Strother, 66, faces a single count of first-degree murder tied to an attack that occurred on the Rosemont branch of the Blue Line aboard a train near the 5800 block of North River Road Wednesday evening, police said. —William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 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