first-degree
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the lowest or first in a series.
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of or relating to the highest or most serious in a series.
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.
If a first degree family member had it, the chances of others having the condition increased to one in 10.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
The study followed 381 first degree relatives of people with Crohn's disease.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
According to CNN, "a charge of murder in the first degree is rare because it requires special elements related to the crime to be charged."
From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024
“Falsification of business records in the first degree — it sounds so bad,” Mr. Trump said.
From New York Times • May 31, 2024
He entered Dartmouth college in 1805, and after passing through the usual course, received his first degree, with a high reputation among his teachers and classmates for industry, talent, and uncommon perseverance.
From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
