first-degree

adjective

The most severe level of felony, typically involving planning or other aggravating factors.

“The jury found her guilty of 6 counts of first-degree murder, one for each of the victims of her rampage.”

Similar
in cold blood
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Meanings

adjectivefirst-degree (not comparable)

alternative in the first degree · alternative 1st degree

  1. At the first level of some system
    1. not comparablelawThe most severe level of felony, typically involving planning or other aggravating factors.

      The jury found her guilty of 6 counts of first-degree murder, one for each of the victims of her rampage.

    2. not comparableThe least severe damage from a burn, typically involving only damage to the outer layer of skin.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
in cold blood

Translations

Dutch eerstegraads-, van de eerste graad
  • eerstegraads-barely burnt
  • van de eerste graadbarely burnt
Finnish ensimmäisen asteen
  • ensimmäisen asteenbarely burnt
Hungarian elsőfokú
  • elsőfokúbarely burnt
Irish den chéad ghrád
  • den chéad ghrádbarely burnt
Cite this entry
APA

first-degree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first-degree

MLA

“first-degree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first-degree. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “first-degree,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first-degree.

Source: first-degree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.