degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a step or stage in a process, course, or order of classification

advanced by degrees

We all know that you're only three degrees away from all sorts of interesting and even famous people on social media.

—Alex Proud

2

a

: a rank or grade of official, ecclesiastical, or social position

people of low degree

b

archaic : a particular standing especially as to dignity or worth

c

: the civil (see civil sense 4) condition or status of a person

3

genealogy : a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor

4

a

obsolete : step, stair

b

archaic : a member of a series arranged in steps (as of parts of a structure)

5

medical : a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease compare first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn

6

a

: the extent, measure, or scope of an action, condition, or relation

different in degree but not in kind

requiring a high degree of skill

b

: relative intensity

a high degree of stress

c

grammar : one of the forms or sets of forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb

d

law : a legal measure of guilt or negligence

found guilty of murder in the first degree

7

a

education : a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study

earned her four-year degree

associate's degrees

has a degree in psychology

b

: a grade of membership attained in a ritualistic order or society

received his first degree in the Knights of Columbus

c

: an academic title conferred to honor distinguished achievement or service

The actor was presented with an honorary degree.

d

: the formal ceremonies observed in the conferral of such a distinction

8

mathematics : a unit of measure for angles equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹/₃₆₀ of the circumference

a fifteen degree angle

47 degrees Latitude

also : a unit of measure for arcs of a circle equal to the amount of arc that subtends a central angle of one degree

9

archaic : a position or space on the earth or in the heavens as measured by degrees of latitude

10

music

a

: a step, note, or tone of a scale

b

: a line or space of the musical staff

11

: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument

specifically : any of various units for measuring temperature

350 degrees Fahrenheit

12

mathematics

a

: the sum of the exponents of the variables in the term of highest degree in a polynomial, polynomial function, or polynomial equation

b

: the sum of the exponents of the variable factors of a monomial

c

: the greatest power of the derivative of highest order in a differential equation after the equation has been rationalized (see rationalize sense 2) and cleared of fractions with respect to the derivative

degreed

di-ˈgrēd 

adjective

Illustration of degree

• degree 8

Phrases

to a degree

1

: to a remarkable extent : exceedingly

I felt desolate to a degree

—Charlotte Brontë

2

: in a small way

to a degree he succeeded

Synonyms

• chapter
• cut
• grade
• inch
• notch
• peg
• phase
• place
• point
• stage
• step

Examples of degree in a Sentence

There are 360 degrees in a circle.

These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just over two years ago, on Feb. 4, 2023, the observatory measured what was likely the lowest wind chill ever recorded in the United States, minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Villegas still thinks about getting his high school degree. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025

Temperatures had dropped to below-freezing at 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Temperatures will drop between minus 10 and minus 20 degrees by Thursday, the NWS said, with an extreme cold watch in effect and a potential windchill of minus 30 degrees. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French degré, from Vulgar Latin *degradus, from Latin de- + gradus — see degrade

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing degree

• advanced degree
• associate's degree
• bachelor's degree
• degree-day
• degree of freedom
• external degree
• first-degree burn
• first-degree murder
• give you the third degree
• honorary degree
• in the first degree
• in the second degree
• master's degree
• pass degree
• second-degree burn
• second-degree murder
• the degree to which
• third-degree
• third-degree burn
• third-degree murder
• to a greater/lesser degree/extent
• to a greater or lesser degree/extent
• to such a degree
• to the nth degree
• to what degree

Kids Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a step or stage in a process or series

advance by degrees

2

a

: the intensity of something as measured by degrees

murder in the first degree

b

: one of the forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb

3

: a rank or grade of official or social position

persons of high degree

4

a

: a grade of membership in an order or society

b

: a title given a student by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a program of study

a degree of doctor of medicine

c

: an academic title granted to honor a person who is not a student

5

: one of the divisions marked on a measuring instrument (as a device for measuring temperature)

6

: a unit of measure for angles and arcs that for angles is equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference and that for an arc of a circle is equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference

7

a

: a line or space of the musical staff

b

: a step, note, or tone of a musical scale

Medical Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease see first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn

2

a

: a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a unified program of study

b

: an academic title conferred honorarily

3

: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument

specifically : any of various units for measuring temperature

4

: a 360th part of the circumference of a circle

degreed

-ˈgrēd 

adjective

Legal Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree

1

: a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor

2

a

: a measure of the seriousness of a crime see also fifth degree, first degree, fourth degree, second degree, third degree

Note: Crimes are rated by degrees for the purpose of imposing more severe punishments for more serious crimes.

b

: a measure of care

also : a measure of negligence especially in connection with bailments see also care, negligence