Synonyms

doctorate

American

[dok-ter-it] / ˈdɒk tər ɪt /

noun

any of several academic degrees of the highest rank, as the Ph.D. or Ed.D., awarded by universities and some colleges for completing advanced work in graduate school or a professional school.
an honorary degree conferring the title of doctor upon the recipient, as with the LL.D. degree.

doctorate British

/ ˈdɒktərɪt, -trɪt /

noun

Also called: doctor's degree. the highest academic degree in any field of knowledge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

predoctorate noun

Etymology

Origin of doctorate

First recorded in 1670–80; from Medieval Latin doctōrātus; doctor, -ate ³

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While working on her doctorate at the University of Washington in Seattle, Mastick took an unconventional approach.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

An honorary doctorate is the highest honour UU can bestow and is awarded to inspirational people who have made an outstanding impact in their field.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He studied physics at Harvard and after getting his doctorate in 2015, he was the first machine-learning hire at Kensho, an AI firm for finance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Araghchi, who holds a doctorate in political thought from the University of Kent in England, has vigorously defended Iran's position in TV interviews including with American media.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Oppenheimer went to Harvard and then on to Cambridge University to pursue a doctorate in physics.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023