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.
I found a document releasing people convicted of first-degree murder so they could give a talk at a Masonic lodge or play chess at a high school tournament.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
It does exclude offenders sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole and offenders who commit first-degree murder of a peace officer.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
"Confirming our previous study immune response against bacterial flagellins show strong associations with future risk of Crohn's in healthy first-degree relatives," said Dr. Lee.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
Under Oklahoma law, first-degree manslaughter is defined as a homicide that occurs when perpetrated without a "design to effect death" while a person is engaged in the commission of a misdemeanor.
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025
“I saw Ed McMellon,” Boss would later testify, when the four officers were brought to trial on charges of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
