Illustration of degree
- degree 8
1
: a step or stage in a process, course, or order of classification
advanced by degrees
We all know that you're only three degrees away from all sorts of interesting and even famous people on social media.—
Alex Proud
Alex Proud2
a
: a rank or grade of official, ecclesiastical, or social position
people of low degree
b
archaic
: a particular standing especially as to dignity or worth
c
: the civil (see civil sense 4) condition or status of a person
3
genealogy
: a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor
4
5
medical
: a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease compare first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn
6
a
: the extent, measure, or scope of an action, condition, or relation
different in degree but not in kind
requiring a high degree of skill
b
: relative intensity
a high degree of stress
c
grammar
: one of the forms or sets of forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb
d
law
: a legal measure of guilt or negligence
found guilty of murder in the first degree
7
a
education
: a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study
earned her four-year degree
associate's degrees
has a degree in psychology
b
: a grade of membership attained in a ritualistic order or society
received his first degree in the Knights of Columbus
c
: an academic title conferred to honor distinguished achievement or service
The actor was presented with an honorary degree.
d
: the formal ceremonies observed in the conferral of such a distinction
8
mathematics
: a unit of measure for angles equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹/₃₆₀ of the circumference
a fifteen degree angle
47 degrees Latitude
also
: a unit of measure for arcs of a circle equal to the amount of arc that subtends a central angle of one degree
9
archaic
: a position or space on the earth or in the heavens as measured by degrees of latitude
10
music
a
: a step, note, or tone of a scale
b
: a line or space of the musical staff
11
: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument
specifically
: any of various units for measuring temperature
350 degrees Fahrenheit
12
mathematics
a
: the sum of the exponents of the variables in the term of highest degree in a polynomial, polynomial function, or polynomial equation
c
: the greatest power of the derivative of highest order in a differential equation after the equation has been rationalized (see rationalize sense 2) and cleared of fractions with respect to the derivative
Phrases
to a degree
1
: to a remarkable extent : exceedingly
I felt desolate to a degree—Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë2
: in a small way
to a degree he succeeded
Examples of degree in a Sentence
There are 360 degrees in a circle.
These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a defense sentencing memo, Gonzalez’s attorney describes her as a gifted and enterprising young woman who acquired a B.S. degree in civil and environmental engineering and architectural design from Stanford in 2015, and was involved in other entrepreneurial activities beyond her drug business.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Yemane’s academic ambitions led him to study architecture, earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Detroit native to front office presence Perry played college hoops for one season at Oregon and the rest of his collegiate career at Wayne State in Detroit, graduating from the latter in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, according to the Wayne State athletics department.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
This is especially true if a student wants to pursue a non-specialized degree that's offered at a range of high-quality, affordable schools.
—Robert Farrington, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degree
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Yemane’s academic ambitions led him to study architecture, earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Detroit native to front office presence Perry played college hoops for one season at Oregon and the rest of his collegiate career at Wayne State in Detroit, graduating from the latter in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, according to the Wayne State athletics department.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
This is especially true if a student wants to pursue a non-specialized degree that's offered at a range of high-quality, affordable schools.
—Robert Farrington, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degree
Cite this Entry
“Degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degree. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
degree
noun
de·gree
di-ˈgrē 
1
: a step or stage in a process or series
advance by degrees
2
a
: the intensity of something as measured by degrees
murder in the first degree
b
: one of the forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb
3
: a rank or grade of official or social position
persons of high degree
4
a
: a grade of membership in an order or society
b
: a title given a student by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a program of study
a degree of doctor of medicine
c
: an academic title granted to honor a person who is not a student
5
: one of the divisions marked on a measuring instrument (as a device for measuring temperature)
6
: a unit of measure for angles and arcs that for angles is equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference and that for an arc of a circle is equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference
7
a
: a line or space of the musical staff
b
: a step, note, or tone of a musical scale
Medical Definition
degree
noun
de·gree
di-ˈgrē
1
: a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease see first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn
2
a
: a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a unified program of study
b
: an academic title conferred honorarily
3
: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument
specifically
: any of various units for measuring temperature
4
: a 360th part of the circumference of a circle
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