first-degree

[furst-di-gree]

adjective

of or relating to the lowest or first in a series.
of or relating to the highest or most serious in a series.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for first-degree

Contemporary Examples of first-degree

Brown was arraigned Wednesday on the charge of first-degree manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Is She a Killer?
Bryan Curtis
December 30, 2009