first-degree

American  

[furst-di-gree] / ˈfɜrst dɪˈgri /

adjective

1. of or relating to the lowest or first in a series.

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

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Example Sentences

Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday that prosecutors plan to charge Lakanwal with first-degree murder over the death of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom.

From The Wall Street Journal

While initially convicted of first-degree murder in Worden’s death, he was eventually declared not guilty by reason of insanity — diagnosed as schizophrenic — and was institutionalized until his death due to complications from cancer in 1984.

From Los Angeles Times

Those charges are attempted first-degree murder and terrorism, the Republican said in a post to X.

From Salon

Hennepin County Attorney General Mary Moriarty is also seeking first-degree murder charges against Boelter.

From Salon

“Anything less than first-degree would’ve been an injustice,” Jahanshahi said, though “it’s not going to change the trauma that the surviving victim has gone through.”

From Los Angeles Times