in the first degree
idiom
: of the most serious type : deserving the harshest punishment
She was accused of murder in the first degree.
Examples of in the first degree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Finally, in 2010, Alcala was convicted a third time and sentenced to death for five counts of murder in the first degree.
—
Jack Dunn, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
Trump was convicted in a New York criminal trial earlier this year on 34 felony counts in the first degree of falsifying business records.
—Erin Doherty, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024
He was being held Sunday at the Craighead County jail and facing one count of battery in the first degree.
—Lena Miano, arkansasonline.com, 15 Sep. 2024
Casey was later charged with escape in the first degree and felony murder in connection with Vicky’s death.
—Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in the 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.
Jack Dunn, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
Trump was convicted in a New York criminal trial earlier this year on 34 felony counts in the first degree of falsifying business records.
—Erin Doherty, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024
He was being held Sunday at the Craighead County jail and facing one count of battery in the first degree.
—Lena Miano, arkansasonline.com, 15 Sep. 2024
Casey was later charged with escape in the first degree and felony murder in connection with Vicky’s death.
—Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in the first degree
Dictionary Entries Near in the first degree
Cite this Entry
“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share