Doctor of Philosophy

American  

[dok-ter uhv fi-los-uh-fee] / ˈdɒk tər əv fɪˈlɒs ə fi /

noun

1. the highest degree, a doctorate, awarded for graduate study in an academic field.

2. a person who has been awarded this degree.

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Doctor of Philosophy British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: PhD.   DPhil.  a doctorate awarded for original research in any subject except law, medicine, or theology

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Etymology

Origin of Doctor of Philosophy

First recorded in 1800–05

Example Sentences

The University of Bristol conferred him a Doctor of Philosophy in front of his wife Claire Axten and 11-year-old granddaughter Freya.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2023

The bride, 27, is a full-time student at the University of California, Los Angeles and the California Institute of Technology, where she is studying to receive a Doctor of Philosophy and a medical degree.

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2018

At its October meeting, the UNC Board of Governors approved programs leading to Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

From Washington Times • Nov. 11, 2015

Then the University of Chicago, where he became a Doctor of Philosophy.

From Time Magazine Archive

As an example Bernstein cites He felt it offered the best opportunity to do fundamental research in chemistry, which was what he had taken his Doctor of Philosophy degree in.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker